# LIBRARY OF CONGRESS/f 

# •' J ff'j'l f 

I UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, f 



/33f5"(r- 



POEMS 



BY 



J 
THOMAS BROWER PEACOCK. 



IXDEPENDEIICE : 

KANSAS DEMOCRAT PUBLISHING HOUSE. 






0^\ 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872, by 

THOMAS BROWER PEACOCK, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 

All rights reserved. 



BELOVED AND HONORED FRIENDS, 



THIS VOLUME IS 



RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED 



THE AUTHOR. 



rj^^r^pf- 



It is with no wish for unmerited praise, which induces me to sub- 
mit my youthl'iil poems to the public, but at the solicitations of 
some kind friends. I am well aware of those unseen l»reakei-s which 
beset the course of all literai-y aspirants, (however deserving their 
aspirations) , more especially when they venture their introduc- 
tory bark upon the treacherous sea of Authorship. If the 
present work meets with sufficient encouragement, the author will 
feel warranted in making future attempts in the same style of 
literature. 

THOMAS BROWEK PEACOCK. 

December 1 , 1872. 



PPfTFF?- 



PAGE . 

Isabpl ; or the Haunted Lake !* 

The Star of tlie East 1:5 

The Chicago Fire 30 

The Restless Wandei-er 33 _ 

Angels' Voices 4) 

The Typhoon 42 

The Prayer of the Universe 44 

The A ngel I love 46 

The Beauty's Last Slee)) 48 

Autumnal 50 

The Lovers' Parting •")^ 

The Decree ot JTate W' 

Mankind's Common Destiny -57 

The City of the Dead 59 

The Maniac 62 

A. Dream 63 

Morning 65 

Evening.-. 60 

An Ode to the Dead 68 

Still United, though Death Parted 69 

A Dirge 73 

The Close of Day 74 

The Vendetta 76 

Addenda Last Page 



ISABEL^. 



OR. 



O ! what a pure and saci'ed thing 

Is Beauty, curtained from the sight 
Of the gross world, illumining 

One only mansion with her light! 
Unseen by man's disturbing eye,— 

The flower that blooms beneath the sea, 
Too deep for sunbeams, doth not lie 

Hid in more chaste obscurity. 

MOORK . 

Ere Phcebus, bright had tinged the morn, 
While yet the night-bird wing'd its horn, 
Ere had aroused the morning star, 
While Cynthia rode her silver ear, 
Fair Isabel 'rose from her soft bed,. 
With memory sweet of dreams but fled, 
And merely skim'd through marble hall, 
Around which owl and raven call, 
O'er which the stars of Heaven fall: 



10 liSAHKl.; OH. T!IK HAlNTKr) I.AKf:. 

Now d'ct tlu' lawn like Hnatiiig mist, 
Slu' iflHlt'fJ liulif. ^''f /f'pl>y'''^ kis>i'(l, 
Her nil>y lips, op. wliicli a sniiii' 
iSparkffil aixi i)lay'il, in it no .uuii(>; 
'riiiMiuuli e:^lan!int' ami a^plioiii'l, 
WliiTc >i>ri ti\c IV)Untain"s walcr fell, 
iler eyes as hhn- a< lu-aven ;il«ove, 
Mirt;/iM her Iveart, — a I'ay of lo\e. — 
She reache I a lake wiiose hosoni still, 
MeHeeteii i)ioon,.star, mountain, hill; 
Homantii- mirror, e'er wliere ti-ace 
The ITniverse and Na.tnre's face. 
Why leaves rhe Beauty hei' soft ]iillow ? 
Why si'ek the lake's uuruliled hillow '.' 
Kre Day liad come on his wingsof light, 
While .Silence ])erc'h'(i on th' hack of Night : 
When soul leaves body, an<l far roams, 
To study Nature's ancient tomes. 
Her dreams were sweet, her lienrt whs light, 
Nf) incahuK her soul did fright, — 
Love was the cause; that day a bride 
Fair Fsabel would be, if there came naught 
Unseen to foil, ere next day, Eartli caught 
The Sun's last, lingering rays of light, 
Which tlieker, then fade into the night. 
She wislietl to meditate, and dwell 
With NatJire, ere that magic spell 
Which marks her while Night softly reigns 
'Midst Fancy's sweet ^nlian .strains, 
le broken by the God of Da>-. 



TSABKI.; OK, THK HAUNTKli l.AKF. 11 

That Beauty vaiiislied by ii ray. 

That time of night \vlie»! Death's brotiier, Sleei*, 

With iNatare dutli liis compact i<eep; 

When e'en tlie forest 'round the hUve. 

Seems to a living presence take, 

And ill its whispering's seems to 'tell. 

That round our very being dwell, 

Kind, friendly spirits in each breeze — 

Whicii I'ans our clieek, — from out the trees; 

Sweet spirits from their homes above, 

W liose presence tell their yearning love. 

The Lake which oft in Childiiood's hours 

Had seen her cull its shores' wild tlower*^, 

Saw lier now stantl, Cliild. Age between. 

Beside the hike, oroud Beauty's <iueen,; 

Now like a fiasii fond Memory flew 

Far back, and ou its dim track threw, 

Infancy, (JhiUiliood, and Time's strit« 

Which bul farewell to single life; 

And oft a sigh of love, e'er deai\ 

Now .sweetly melts into a tear, 

Tliat brightly shines tlirough tress of hair. 

Soft zephyrs blow o'er l>row so fair, 

■Conflicting t^elings in her breast. 

Cause her to weep, — 'though .soul is ble.sse<l — 

tSut hark! some soaad the maiden l»ears, — 

iShestarts! but guiltless, has no fears. 

A noble rider come.s in view, 

Just where the flowers their pefcuLs strew. 

is it ! oh ! can it be of aJi. 



12 isabkl; or, the haunted lake. 

^he only one whose dear eyes cull 

Up .Joy, cause heart to throbbing swell, 

With sweetest palpitations tell 

Her dearest wish is gratified, 

And Hope's bright presence not deiiied I 

It is! No braver knight than Don Garele, 

E'er fought for Beauty, or, e'er shivered steel. 

He, too, had ' woke, and for a ride,- 

iiode near the spot where did abide 

I'he being, who in a few short hours 

Would be his bride, whom Love empowers 

W'ith such, great, liigh, and perfect gifts, 

'I'hat soul to'ard Heaven, ethereal lifts. 

The lovers soon witiiin a boat. 

On lake's broad bosom sweetly float; 

Bright Happiness dwelt in their warm souls, 

And Joy her pleasures now unrolls. 

Ah ! see! dark clouds are threat'ning war; 

And dimly glows eacli pale lit star 

From Heaven's dnrk vault ; the Thunder growls, 

Fierce coming on, tiie Tempest howls ; 

It closer draws, on lake, is there. 

The lovers see, too late; Despair 

Now sits upon the boat's frail prow — 

O ! where is she, sweet Mercy," now ! 

The boat is whirled upon a wave, — 

Now Lightning licks its watery grave. 

Fair Isabel, and her lover, too, 

Now float on waves ; — the storm still grew; — 

They struggle well — O ! Christ ! thou save! 



STAR OF THE EAST. 33 

Tliey vanisli now beneath a wave. 

■X- * -i- ****** * 

Ere from the sky the stars have flown, 
While Sea-nymphs dance beneatli the moon, 
And Wood-fays sing in leafy boughs, 
When they in secret plight sweet vows, 
Before the day the night doth break. 
Two phantom lovers sail the lake. 



STAR OF THE EAST. 

ARGUMENT. 

This ))oeni is founded, on an incident, which, in the history of 
Circassia, is well authenticated. Over a century ago, the two 
wealthiest, and most powerful princes of Circassia lived near the 
Black Sea. The elderly one, Prince Agra, was a widower, having 
but one living child, his beautiful daughter Zaluinnia, who was 
dearer to her father than all other earthly possessions. The other. 
Prince Bravello, was young and handsome, .living quite alone, if 
We except his retinue of servants, he being Ihe only remaining one 
living of his family. Notwithstanding that these two princes were 
the greatest by far of all the petty rulers, and that their principal- 
ities joined, yet they lived in harmony and peace. Why should 
they not, when Prince Bravello was the acceyited lover of the beau- 
tiful Princess Zalumma, the Star of the East? Her beauty was the 
theme far and near. This remarkable attraction, however, as the 
reader will see, was the cause of great trouble to its innocent pos- 
sessor. Circassia, as the reader is aware, has long been subjected to 



14 STAR OF THK EAST. 

invasiijus from the warlike Kiissians, and tlu- licentious Turks. 
The then ruling .sultan of Turkey was Kafar, anil to Circassia, her 
greatest curse; owing to the many raids which he made in different 
sections of that afflicted country, alter pilfer and new inmates to re- 
plenish his harems. It is owing to one of these invasion that called 
forth the following poem from me. The Sultan having heard of the 
famous beauty of the renowned Princess Zaluiiima, determined, 
While making his raid, to possess her at all hazards In this under- 
taking a fierce battle ensued between the force.s of the Turkish mon- 
arch and those of Prince Agra, in which the latter was slain, and 
the princess stolen. Prince Bravello being fond of the chase, passed a 
considerable portion of his time in this manner. At the time the out- 
rage was committed at tlie Agra castle, the young prince was absent 
on one of these hunting excursions. Evil forbodings of some unseen 
danger lurking near his friends, finally induced him to leave the chase 
and return to the home of those dear to him . He arrived only in time to 
see the horrible result of the dastardly deeds commited in his absence 
by the bold maraudei-s . He soon discovered who thechiefjparticipant 
iu this damnal)le outrage was, and on him. made a vow to avenge 
the wrongs ot his friends. The finale reveals how that vow was kept, 

PART FIRST. 

Where so/t the lute's sweet mellow toiie.s, 
Float on the still and sultry air, 
Born from the castle built of .stones, 
With polish bright and polish rare, 
There dwelt the sultan, lord ot all 
The Turks, that humbly bowed to liini, 
And harkend to his august call 
With dread, as moitals should dread sin. 
" My harems fail to interest, 
Their inmates have grown old. 
Their fulness soon Twill dive.'st, 
They mu^^t and shall be sold, 



STAR (il- 'IITK KASr. 16 

<'ircassia I will .-ooii iiwadi', • 
I'll sweep her soil by land and sea, 
And make this swift and holtl ernsacJe, 
One of sweet satisfaction be : 
The creatures in inv iiarenis iiow^ 
Cast out for those of f tirer brow." 
Thus spoke the nioiiareli of the Turkisli land, 
His sensual, dark face, bore the lieathen brand; 
He strode throii.uli rooms of gorguous make, 
All this great splendor f(»r his sake. 
With finest of carpers from jich Persian looms, 
Were velvet lined ottomans, in silk satin'd rooms 
Here sparkled jewels of ray, pure, serene, 
To wo/ld unknown, and to world e'er unseen : 
Ametliist, diamonds, pearls, rubies and gold, 
Other things precious ; great wealth there, untold. 

PART SECOND. 

Where the Black Sea's darken'd waters 

Ebbs and flows, and green in billows roll, 

Liv'd one of Earth's fairest daughters 

Witii a prince; and dear unto his soul 

Was his child, the princess ; a perfect Hebe in looks, 

Venus ne'er outrival'd, nor nymph of ocean nooks. 

Not the age nor beauty of goddess to degrade. 

Yet Zalumma would have Juno's charms betrayed: 

A being with more beauty, or more winsome grace, 

Ne'er whirl'd the mazy dance in Love's measur'd pace. 

Now bereft of mother, long since deceast. 

Was Zahimm.H Agra, Star of the East. 



16 STAB OF THK KAST. * 

They dwelt near the village, call'd Sultanii Kale, 

They lived alone, in a sweet slumbering vale, 

Wliere wild grew flowers, aud beautiful trees, 

Wherewafted breezes o'er three rolling seas. 

Fair Zalumma, JPnnee Agra's child, 

Loved her father with loving smile, 

Who doted on her matchless worth, 

And hless'd the hour which gave her birth. 

Her lovely form, her most beautiful face, 

Surpass'd not iier heart, its love for her race. 

Ever o'erflowing with generous impulse; 

Were the heart and soul at each throbbing pulse 

Of the princess ; the depths of whose dark tender eye 

E'er reflected her soul ; oft a deep hidden sigh 

Heav'd gently tne pure bosom of the sweet creature, 

She sigh'd for a loved one, fond Cupid, her teacher. 

She was of a romantic turn, 

As guiltless as the wildwood fern. 

Devoid of guile, this dark eyed elf 

Thought all as si)ot1ess as herself. 

She loved to rove the forest wild, 

Thus ever hath false Youth beguil'd : 

There flowers seek in loneij' dells, 

Deep hidden 'neath the chaparrals; 

To list to wild bird's tuneful song, 

High soaring, as she moves along. 

And flits across her winding course, 

When sounds the owl's voice, deep and hoarse, 

From out the dense and silent woods, 

A solemn world in its solitudes, 



, STAR OF TIIK EAST. 17 

And breathe the aromatic breath, 

Of sweet Heath, bi'eathing but to death, 

And oft in silence then to brood, 

W'lilst straying in a thoughtful mood, 

Of Iier prince of princes, brave JJravello, 

Wiio by light of sun, by moon's pale yellow, 

Wander'd o'er rugged mountain lips, 

Througli vales of wii I rose, sweet tulips, 

Ami many other fragrant flowers. 

All heedless of tiie passing hours. 

In pursuit of buck and doe, 

Flying from their dreaded foe. 

Tlie princess thought with ciiildlike glee, 

A thought e'er dear to memory ; 

Of near approach of coining morn, 

When change of life would her's be born, 

Divine and human laws allow; 

The change of li^e by marriage vow, 

A sphere of life naught e'er to rue. 

As free from stain as mount's bright (iew, 

As pure as liquid of the fount 

Which high in cr^'stals, oft doth mount 

Toward the blue horizon's cloudy scope, 

Bright the vision, bright the future hope. 

PART THIRD. 

The sun was sinking in the west. 
Thus tinging clouds with golden crest, 
While darkness gathered on shore and sea, 



18 sTAH OF THE KAST. 

And .siiml )vvs hover'd o'ei- far off lea, 

Where Niglit so sweet in lier sable dress, 

Heard Wind's low vcjw, felt his st>ft caress, 

When cant'rini? sounds of prancing steeds. 

As hoofs bore down on sand and weeds, 

Awoke tlie stillness of the hour ; 

Now quick'ning steps halt 'neath the tower, 

And voices nuit'ringon the air, 

Suon reacli'd tii' ears of the Princess, fair. 

While resting 'neath the arbor's vines, 

Wiiereeacli long slioot in labyrinth winds. 

iShe heais tlie souiuls first in a dream. 

And fancies some wild panther's scream, 

Awakening to a conscious state, 

More sounds lo liear she doth await. 

'The sight of soldiers' glittering spears, 

AwakeKs soon lier inmosi fears. 

Now where the castle stands sin- Hies, 

Her parent (*f tlie facts ajjprize ; 

But vain licr mission at the most, 

Now through the door a v/arlike host 

Intruded, with the reckless tramp 

Of soldiers from a toreign cami). 

The Prince and Princess soi^n they heai 

Collecting the Circassian ntar, 

"Too late I too late! " the Prince now cries, 

Yet shook his sword, his foes defies, 

He sees the gain the foe now hath, 

And at its hight arose his wrath 

On him, the guard, whose duty most, 



STAK (IE 'IMTK F.AST. 10 

To sec \v!i;it e'er tipprnni-h'fi his post; 

'l\) toll the Prince when danj^aM lurks; 

When from the Russians or the Turks, 

Hut, howl repel the foeniiin, how? 

Were tiioughts that 'rose like lijj;htnin!J;- now, 

Unniindin*; then the careless man, 

That (lid admit this lawless elan. 

The Prinoe's force was drawin|->- near. 

When focmen. 'rose in front and rear. 

Tiie battle now in real hejran, 

Each foetnen fou.nht ; eacl\ man to man, 

Stcid shone in liuht of chamlelier, 

And dim tiie f-ims that Kattled liere. 

Still dinim(-r those in outer dark, 

Where tar^'cts faintly foemaii n)ark. 
Then vviiat the Prince's woe or weal, 
As loud there dwelt one constant peal, 
Of cries of mercy, oaths ('emeaned. 
And frantic yells, one sound it seemed. 
The sounds that rent the air within, 
A loud, uninterrupted din. 
(.'ommiufjled with the sounds without, 
Where roar'd War's messengeis about, 
Like howiin^^ storm when ragin/j;- at its heat, 
Like mournful cries of bpirits seekiiig rest, 
When souls in darkue.ss, shriek, lost, lost, lost, 
Which float at midnight o'er cold hoar frost, 
Or like, ere dawns the morning gray. 
Wild hoats of inidhight fiends at bay, 
Ar 'St? aud echoed oik loud roar. 



20 STAR OF THE EAST. 

From tun-et to foundation floor ; 
A sound that seemed to reach the sky, 
And mingle with the clouds on high, 
That rushed o'er sea, o'er wihl moorland, 
Wliilst ebb'd with blood life's shifting sand. 
As foeman fell 'midst blood and dust, 
From nerveless hands fell swords to rust. 
Some feet to feet, some head to head. 
In peace they sleep — the fallen deatl — 
Unconscious of the angiy strife. 
That robb'd eacli warrior oj his life. 
Eacli living foeman fouglit thesnme, 
Unmindful then of fallen slair:. 

* * -::• ■:«■ *■;;-** ^:- 

The battle now began to v;ane, 
As thunder after storm and rain, 
The clansmen dead on every side, 
Their blood in streams ono flowing tide. 
The Prince's minions, one-tentl> size 
Of foes they fought, became tJieir prize. 
The Piince was pinion'd ina eliuir, 
And then tliey sought the Princess fair, 
Beneath the turret's roof they found her, 
Hoping to 'scape from her pursuer. 
She had gone at her sire's request, 
And hid herself at his behest. 
In fright she saw their cause forsaken. 
When swift by Turks she next was taken 
Before their savage, barb'rous chief, 
Who well deserv'd the name of thief. 



S3TAR OF THK KAST. 21 

The sight of one with beauty rare, 

Soon caused tlie Turks to rudely stare. 

Their monarch stopp'd it with a glance, 

And to'ard the Princess did advance, 

Thus saying: "Thou Carcassian maid,. 

Alone art worth mj' Northern raid, 

And I Will vouch, no doubts retain. 

Thou art the gem of this domain." 

Insultitig words, so thought the sire, 

And wildly 'woke his slumb'ring ire. 

Witliout a token's faint alarm, 

He deftly loos'd each i^ettered arm. 

And sword unscabbard, deep the gash 

He cut above tlie speaker.e sash. 

This madc'ened thrust to shield his rhild, 

[Jndreanit by foes, was rash, was wild. 

For ere had he breathed another breath. 

In silence he lay, that silence, death I 

Thus fell proud Agra's Prince to Turkish liate, 

And wither'd — all must — to the blast of Fate. 

With anguish cry which spoke her wild despair, 

The princess fainted ; then her raven hair 

In tresses droop'd o'er her ashen brow, 

Unconcious of all her misery now. 

No longer near their bloody work, 

With wounded king, each savage Turk, 

Departed with their captive south, 

Her dark eyes bound, and gagg'd her moutb. 



^1 ST. AH OF THK KAST. 

PART FOUUTH. 

Wlid-c zcpyrsli strny, wluTo breezos sleop, 

WluM'c fountains piny, where niijht stars pec;). 

Rravello h-intcfl o'er the wlMs afar, 

Anil hiintin'j:, nauo^ht liad l\e to mar 

His visions sweet of S)nie future life, 

Wlu'n'doar Zahinuna woui 1 lu' liis -.vlfe. 

Wiieii thus in wand'rings stop'd ho with tire. 

O.- hi'lden honuty pausM t > admir"', 

The lone wild sports '>^^ hieatli his viewtt, 

RoiKiuntic scenes, iiivuk'd tiie muse. 

His storie<l vers:- did eft eiitwiiie, 

When favor'd hy ilie '•unojis nine, 

Romances of oast oral hiiss. 

No sorr >\vs tliere wiii(di siiadow this. 

One moon he pass'd wliere roams the deer, 

Until arose a growing fear, 

Which irrfwin .^'!-owth and woke to steal 

-VIl tlDii'^'h'is but tliose that sorrow feel. 

.\jid left no wisli Sut what was felt, 

Tliat lie'd return wliere thit one dwelt, 

IT'> fo:;:lIy lov'd witli more de % otion,. 

Tlian anv i-oving- lan.l or ocean 

Xow !)e, the image of the fam ri .Apollo 

Di'1 hastely flight of Tuidd follow, 

Hr pass'd his home so silently serei\e. 

T • home h" sought one good league lay between, 

Tiiis distaj:fe soon he swiftly pass'd. 

Then Agra's castle reached at last. 



STAU OF TH1-: KAST. 23 

Tie not a.s forin'ly saw one to i-etard, 

iSoiiie one to (.'liyllenj^e, that some oiie a guard. 

Now lif^htly he ran through the gate's widened wall, 

Where sights met his vision, his heart did appall. 

Tlie ground u as strown o'er with men stiff and stark, 

Grim death on each face; no lite giving spark. 

The simo(mi of death iiad swept dark o'er the land, 

The proof of its visit lay stark on the sand, 

Mere lay a rider and there lay a steed, 

In silence, in bl('>od, 'neath tall waving reed. 

Here Death spread his broad and shadowing wings, ' 

No life the Prince met ; in death were all things. 

He woke from the trance tiie sight threw hiju in, 

He sought for his love, he sought for her kin. 

The castle was strown, as strown was tjie ground, 

No prince he there saw, no princess he found. 

No sweet reward met his eyeballs' wild strain, 

She whom he soughi for, he sougnt for in vain, 

Examining more closely the face of the dead, 

In features of some tiie dread secret he read* 

He now saw sometiiing thus far hid from view, 

The corse of Agra, friend e'er good and true. 

He grieved o'er that form, and then silently Wept 

Then next entombed him where his ancestors slept. 

The mystery's cleared, no deception lurks now 

From quivering, pale lips, through teeth a wild vow, 

He hiss'd ; dike the snake that hisses at bay, 

It wafted on breeze; o'er dead where they lay ; 

And floated 'neath arch of dim arcades, 

And vanish'd through gloom of silent shades. 



24 ST AH OF THK EAST. 

Revenge is painted, ah! now tlie light now, 

The clammy cold sweat on his pale damp In-ow, 

Remained and settled where first it oozed forth, 

He wildly now gaz'd. now (South and now Korlh : 

But little ling'ring, no time to be lost, 

He boldly next plung'd through the dark night iVost. 

PART FIFTH. 

The dark was goin<^ and fortli peep'd the morn, 

When loud a blast from the shrill bugle horn, 

Awoke the people far and near. 

Creating soon the wildest fear. 

They look'd for bloody Turkish sword, 

And not for friend, a kinsman lord. 

'Twas Prince Bravello, who'd eome into town. 

And 'woke the sleepers by the bngle sound. 

The needy and poor of Sea Sultann Kale, 

Informed of tlie truth, the mishap bewail, 

Of Princess and Prince, who were life, were all, 

Whose sorr(»ws had come like the darkest pall. 

Alas ! for hopes through life's war'd strife, 

The friend now gone wlio'd help'd drear life ; 

Her munificent hand had never known stint. 

She had oft aided the poor from her golden mint. 

The men no sooner had found the intent. 

Designs of their prince, than each of them lent 

His promise, his aid, then, full to repay 

The foul deeds done, and in war's fierce array, 

To instantly start with prince they lov'dbest, 



STAR OK THK F-AST. 25 

Let him go to the North, South. East or Wo.st, 
The sun washigli in his bri<j:ht eastern verge, 
One thousand horsemen did tlien swiftly serge, 
To'ard the soil of Turicey, a hind f>f foes, 
Wh »'d d'H'p'd sorrows caus'd !uid creat*^d woes. 
Ah ! darlv were r,he brows, and fierce were tiie eyes, 
Of eacli of tliat band ; "revenge" were their cries. 
O'er many wild moors, tiirougli dark sliaded wood, 
O'or streams, past ruins, wliicb ages had stood, 
Witli name of haunted by liobgoblins and ghosts. 
Inhabit a«ts oftiiese deserted wild posts. 
By light of sun from first peep of the day, 
At night by stars, by moonbeams' tnisty ray. 
No time did they loose, and each Vjreaking dawn, 
Saw tijose avengers swiftly rush, on, on, 
To'ard land of Turks, to their avenge foul wrongs. 
Where dwelt Polygamy in heathen tliongs. 
Where Bacchus, the god of feasts and of pleasures. 
The lay of their songs ; and Earth's fleeting treasures. 
Were worship'd oft and long ; can such worship atone? 
No thought of the Unseen ; nor hereafter unknown. 

PART SIXTH. 

The chief sits at home, while day slowly wanes, 
The wountl in his side with sharp agony pains. 
In glare of soft lights and paintings artf'ly drawn, 
One hundred captives his dark eyes feast on. 
Here's Circassia's fair girls and Arabian maids. 
And here almond eyed houris from Orient shades, 



26 STAR OF THE KAST, 

Here Turkey's chieftain inliales th' fragrant air, 
Where nauglit disturbs liini, no conscience, nor care. 
But hark ! what's tliat! tluit deepening low thud, 
Wliich sounds on air o'er channel's dark flood? 
And why those cries so savage and wild, 
Now bursting f »rth from mountain defile? 
And why do guards give back from their posts, 
And shriek "Circassia's northern wild hosts!" 
But hark ! once more ; 'tis clashing of steel, 
Wiiicli thunders on one roaring loud peal. 
The Sultan look'd forth in thestygian air, 
Met two dark eyeballs, a eunich's wild stair. 
Tile door of the harem groan'd,and then croaked, 
' Twas air in the halls, tliat swiftly now eaked 
From (.)uter dark air where war storm din'd ; 
With crash fell door, through it a cold wind 
Moan'd low and whistled with a mornful sound, 
The maids bewilderd, the chief darkly frown'd. 
Then wildly cried to his eunichs witiiout, 
"What ho! there! slaves, what is all this about? 
This clash and din, of tumult, strife and broil. 
8ome drunkards, I ween, I hear their wild call." 
A score or more slaves appeared on the spot, 
Their features were wild, perspiring and hot, 
"Why stand here speechless like Death o'er a pall, 
Where's your brave captain, to stop this wild broil 
Of drunken harlots, and wine bibbing slaves, 
Of thieving scoundrels, and dishonest knaves? 
They all shall swing o'er the ships' looming boughs 
For tampering with peace, and turmoil arouse — 



STAR OF THK KAST. 2t 

"My noble king the foe invades, 

' Tis deep in blood each warrior wades." 

One loudly shriek'd in ears of his king,. 

Like shriek of ghost or phantom on wing, 

When lost at night, some wanderer roams. 

In darkness, where the cataract foams, 

And hoarsely roars 'mid loud shriek of the storm. 

When lightning's flash slu)ws a sjxM-tre like form. 

The king frown'd darkly, while heknashed liis teeth, 

Incarnate demon fnmi the depths beneath. 

" Now by the Gods ! this seems very uncouth. 

Hold ! lo the ramparts ; I'll f^oon know the truth. " 

l^ART SEVENTH. 

As soon as slow time their long journey ends, 
The Prince to each point his bold squadron sends, 
Each warrior, firm, to his post stood secure, 
Each one their anxious to charge o'er the moor. 
Each steed bore rider although tir'd and warm. 
That each bold rider the castle might stf)rm. 
Those riders ready ere had battle blown. 
To charge their foemeu, and make them atone 
For wrong'd Cireassia, foul deeds, woes, and tears. 
The theft of maidens, dead kindred, and sear.s. 
Commands are spoken, each bold dragoon charges, 
The gates are laid low by warriois in barges — 
The Turks charge forward, then wildly fall back. 
When here and there, their stern foe oft attack. 
In front, first cliarging through that bloody strife, 



28 ST ,v R o K T h; k T-: a sr . 

Hravell<^)'s gory sword took often life. 

His warriors foajjht bravely to ri<?lit aid left — 

There irap'd the wound, and liere a limb is cleft. 

The javelins oft jiaused then at th eii marks flew, 

Oft-times to miss, but far oftener true — 

One now excited, wildly doth lunge, 

To next fall hack with frantic death plimge ; 

A warrior unnerv'd, had parried tlie tlirust, 

Hurl'd weapon afar, his foeman to dust. 

The Turks 'though numbering ten thousand score, 

Yet lost the tight in that short fought war. 

The invaders fouglit for a cause but just, 

With innate desire, in their God put trus*., 

With thought but true, we battle right, 

They fought, and conquer'd in the fight; 

The Turks fell to arms of fiircassians. a prey, 

The war song rang loudly, triumphant the lay. 

And they the field of Mar's had won, 

Ere Morn her golden hair undone. 

PART EIGHTH. 

No longer the sounds of battle doth roll, 
From stiffened, stark corses, each storm tost fouI, 
Had wing'd its flight amid loud battle's roar, 
To'ards land of shadows, that echoless shore. 
But now from zenith glows myriads of stars, 
Which shine forth l)rightly o'er red field of Mars, 
Behold that grim Death God now balefully glare. 
Whilst screamed the Black War-eagle hoarsely afar. 



STAB OF THK RAST. 29 

Br.tvello lo )k'(l a'er tliat wiM dreary moor, 

No beauty entic.'d 'naught there to allure. 

The war-horse lay dead, and dead the dragoon, 

AH ghastly and grim, 'iieath soft mellow moon. 

In stillness hush'd, each fallen warrior lay. 

And sleeps the sleep that knows no breaking day. 

No, ne'er will those sleepers again see earthly light, 

To them there is no day, but one long endless night. 

Each soul had gone and from tliat dreadful sight, 

On spirit wings -lad tie 1 its wayward flight. 

Left 'naught to tell what unseen land they'd near; 

Who found e'erlasting bliss, who eternal'drear. 

Yet, when all mortals shall be calle'd unto their doom 

When sounds the trumpet, thro' awful, sombre gloom. 

These sinners like the i-est,with burdens on ti)em cast, 

Will have their secrets told, reveal'd by God at last. 

With those that perish'd, Turkey's king was slain, 

'Twas Prince Bravello's sword hand bore the stain, 

His vow's accomplish'd when with maidens releas'd, 

Was fair Zfilumma, the bright Star of the East, 

The bugle-call told each warrior to mount, 

Soon lost on ears was the musical fount 

Of Kafar's, whence he'd oft gone to muse, 

Or smoke his pipe to vanish the blues ; 

When dulcet tones f)f sweet strung guitar, 

Fair captive play'd, oft wafted afar. 

The Prince lead the front, his Princess was near, 

Fair women, brave warriors, brought up the rear, 

And now in Circassia, no longer they'll roam, 

Each clansman arriv'd, each fair Beauty's at home. 



30 THE OHICAWO FIRK. 

The Princess and Prince were married in state, 
"No sorrow e'er trouble, l)ut happv tlieir fate. 

March, 1871. 



THE CHIC AGO FIEE. 

Chicago ! great city of the West ! 
All that wealth, all that power invest, 
Thou sprang liko magic from the sand, 
As tonch'd by the magician's wand. 
On Michigan 's.surf beaten shore. 
Where dashing waves, and wild winds roar. 
Where that, which Nature's wilds obscured. 
When found great enterprise allured. 
And soon the wilderness of the plains 
Gave place to civilized domains. 
Where roam'd the savage day and hour 
There settled wealth, and pomp, and power; 
Improvements on improvements grew, 
Excell'd by none, thy equals few, 
Thou stood a monument of what 



THK CHICAQi; KI RE. 31 

True enterprise and worth had wrought — 

Alas for man ! his worlis are frail ; 

Uncertain as the fitful gale — 

To thee came an insidious hour, 

Which swept away with fiendish pow*^r 

The gathered wealth of thirty years; 

Left sorrow'd hearts and bitter tears. 
The merchant and the millionaire 

A maniac, a poor man's care — 
The fire-fiends with hell-born delight 
Had marshal'd up tlieir hosted might, 
And fiercer grew, and call'd for more, 
And wider spread with deafning roar. 
The flames a fierce and wild simoom, 
Or like a raging mad typhoon, 
Destroy'd the buildings with a breath 
Of its hot breathings, breathing death. 
Palatial mansions crumbled down 
In rows, as well as cottage brown, 
Or melted, as the hot flames won. 
Like snow beneath a torrid sun. 
And with those mansions perish'd there, 
A mine of all the Fine Arts rare ; 
And many a soul, too, wing'd its way 
From out of its case of mortal clay. 
The mass of flame leaps high above, 
As if the dome of Heav'n to move ; 
On madlj^ sweeps with angry glare — 
Salvation! where art thou, oh, where? 
Fair women who had ne'er known want, 



3:2 Tfll': CHTCAGO FIRE. 

Now saw tlieWolf,* grim, gray and gaunt. 
And she who ne'er had seen a care 
Ran iiere and there in wild depair. 
Ami every wiiere the hot flume heats, 
All grades of mortals filled the street?. 
Here pass'd the virtuous maid, 'though po(,r 
There, some wild rake's fair paramour. 
Here, sad the man of fortune's wreck ; 
There culprits writh'd, and hung by neck ; 
And here forelorn, a wretch half-crazed 
.Sought peace and rest in death's dark mnze. 
Another frenzied, through the flame. 
Oft loudly shriek'd some lov'd one's name. 
The broad lake bore in wild distress. 
Brave men, and women's loveliness. 
For nights and days the fire-fiends rage, 
No human means could them assuage. 
Destruction did no atom wane 
Till Piovidence sent down the rain ; 
Jxi'.it then it wav'd, next grew less, 
Tw.is then for man his God to bless; 
iSow girdthy loins, the demons re^t. 
Thou Garden Citv of the West ; 
Thou hast been ! Thtni again will be 
The goal of all, 'tis thine, iu thee ; 
- A Phoenix, from the dead, at last 
Spring forth in Glor}' from the Past! 

• I'overty. 



THE 

RESTLESS WANDERER. 

PREFACE. 

Moriiiug aud ereniug. The solemnity of a night storm. The 
*«emiiig joy of a beautifal marning is apparent to all lovers of Na- 
ture ia her lorely hues ; yet this very beauty is but a mask, as it 
were, for a far greater amount of misery. Chalporth, a man of a 
powerful intellect, and of a sensative and sympathetic nature and 
soul, wandered over the whole world, in diligent search of a genial 
spirit, but all in vain. At length, after spending a life time of 
fruitless search, ae abandoned his undertaking, in \ieath, and his 
liberated spirit soared to the realms of the Eternal. 

I. 
The Mom is up, the dewy Morn of day, 
Tliere's on the breeze a floating murmur born, 
Now Nature weeps her silent tears away, 
And hands to Night the mantle she had worn. 
The lark's arous'd, and sweet his winging horn, 



M THE RESTJ^ESS WANDER. 

Far in the East, the morning star appears, 
The mist fades from the wheat, and ripening corn. 
As Phcebus brightly comes ; the hearts he cheers 
Are many; Night and Darkness botli his coming 
fears. 

II. 
'Tls Eve, now slumbers sweet the curtained Vale, 
In Nature's bosom, th' Lake is hush'd in sleep, 
The owl hoots to the moon, a melancholy tale, 
'Twixt tree leaves, dews of twilight softly seep, 
The Breeze oft soaring, lowly now doth creep. 
The Storm is resting in the forest cave, 
Th^re husbands strength to future ruin reap, 
The Wind is softly whispering to the Wave, 
The Blast is still, but e'er long it will madly 
rave. 

III. 
It later grows ; soft Night now reigns supreme. 
Stars silently come forth, and loving meet. 
The moon is up — hark! there's the night bird's scream, 
Soft floating there, is one white cloudy sheet, 
I hear the Sea, 'tis dirging low and sweet. 
Music's geutfe voice — time flies — th' hour is soon. 
When Spirits hover near lov'd hearts that beat 
With life, to guard their sleep thro' night's soft noon. 
When Faries dance on clouds, when Peris kiss the 
moon. 

IV. 

Fair Luna wanes ; a cloud obscures her face ; 
The mutt'ring Thunder growls its savage threats ; 



TIIK RKSTLKSS WANDkBKB. 35 

A comidg Storm, the lurid glimmerings trace, 
Each element of Nature more power begets, 
Now lightning sparkles in bright zigzag jets ; 
Cloudy phantoms grimly dance' neath Heaven's bar 
The rain once dropping now a torrent sets, 
Wild lightning, chai n'd and fork 'd, sh( bts near andfai» 
Jjive Storms are flinging thnnderbolls from star to 
star. 

V. 

The Storm and Niglit have fled ! the sleepers wake • 
And hand in hand, both Love and Joy come forth, 
Now sweet, tiie songsters carol from the brake! 
Claims Joy all ? ah ! no ! from east, west, south, north, 
Comes Misery wan, and steals Man's cheerful worth. 
A victim to his power, anti to his biir.e, 
A ciiild of Nature — Star-soul'd, he C'l-nlporth, 
A Pilgrim from his birth, and this his fane. 
He seeks, finds not that sought, while onward^his 
years wane. 

VI. 

He knew time fled — that little now remained 
Of Life's short, fickle, rambling path of care, 
He knew that the star of his destiny waned, 
' Midst clouds now darken'd by gloom of Despair, 
A dim, faint star which hath but one ray there. 
He found no rest — 'though sought — to cheer, no sun, 
Save one faint ray from Hope's delusive Air. 
His soul long'd for a laud where joys were one, 
Still e'er o'er Earth, his restless demon urged him 
on. 



36 THF<: RKSTf.ESS WANDKREK. 

VII. 

What doth he seek? ah! what he ne'er hath found, 
A longing, quenchless search, Hope's sweet desire, 
Anintilectual search ; a something earth ne'er bound, 
What common mortals know not, nor the fire 
It kindles in tiie soul — such flames Inspire — 
Could this bestiU'd? Can dead be brought to life? 
Why, no! no music, no symphony of lyre 
Can drown, though such may ease that burning rife, 
That wish of soul, for in the spirit is the 
strife. 

VIII. 

' Tis well that few are burden'd with tliis fate, 
The fate of Intellect's wild, longing hope. 
Unhappy wish, causing man, mankind to hate, 
A Love infinafive, with Earth's love to cope. 
Where love is finite, here found not ; ah ! mope 
Fond spirit, thy love liath no response on Earth ; 
Now gaze thou wild, on flood, on knife, on rope, 
Then seek the forest, sea, mount, vale and hearth, 
Unhappy still, the same, a spirit from thy 
birth. 

IX. 

Such at the first, have Hope and Life to buoy, 

Then all is sweet, and all men, noble, true, 

And Life's a dream of love, and no alloy; 

An angel, woman ; Paradise all knew 

Was Earth ; such fade, now finds the perfect few ; 

All vanish ; Nature claims the cynic's love. 

Who hates mankind, hates all Earth's heartless crew, 



THK RKSTi-BSS WA ,I)KRKK. 37 

Save one perhaps, who e'en that soul can move, 
A love receiv'd for tliat -.vhieh is alone 
above. 

X. 

Clialporth could ne'er on Jilarth such spirit find, 

For his was of a loftier kind and birth, • 

A love which finds t'.isgust for Earthly kind . 

'Though few, all such, whate'er the sex or mould, 

Die soon, that is, Earth can't long such spirits hold, 

For soul and body ever are at war. 

E'er long th' spirit triumphs, wares th' fleshy rine^ 

As doth the file the hardest iron oi-e. 

Eats all the strength, e'en from the very inmost 

core. 

xr, 
(.'halporth had travel'd much, o'er all Earth's landsi 
Sip'd sweets from Pleasure's love distilling dews. 
He had experiencied Wedlock's marriage bands. 
And long on life did meditating muse. 
When all have fled — when his dark hour no truce — 
When friends have all — save one — long fled afar, 
One angel her sweet presence don't refuse 
To aid him m ount to Heaven's ethereal bar, 
'Midst his dark clouds, that ungel was a soul-liv'd 

Star. 

XII. 

She, too, was lost, but Death had snap'd the tie, 
Which binds two souls in one exquisite thought ; 
The demon Darkness hover'd in the sky. 
His damp wings flap'd despair, and Hope was naught, 



.S8 THE K):STi.KSS WANDKRiCR. 

Her inspiration-^ all, his lierce jaws caught, 
Andswallow'd them up, as the tender flake 
Is swallow'd by tlr remorseless Sea ; thus wrought 
The fiend ; o'er ruins chuekiing, as in wake 
Of wrecks. Death laughs at siiivering ghosts he 
sportive makes. 

xiir. 
His spirit wee])'d witliin for his sad heart's 
Deep misery, which well knew thtit Hope had fled ; 
A desert waste, Man's life when she departs ; 
At most Man's but a breath, and when Joy's dead. 
No ra3' of Happiness on his path is sh.ed. 
Ah ! sad the soul, »d» ! desert of despair, 
Oil ! heart I thy anguish cry is lingering red. 
Thy heavy burden is tlie load of Care, 
An angel from Hea\en cries, " Come Home, don't 
linger there." 

XIV. 

Behold the Pyramids, effigies of long ago, 
High towering to'ard Heaven each glittering head, 
Liglit, fleecy clouds are .iistant far below, 
Soft slumbering peacefully in aerial l)ed, 
E'er call by Nature their bright tears to shed. 
Yes! Egypt's inunuments of iTuimmied kings. 
Where comes butimprison'd Blast 'nd howls o'er dead, 
To call of ghosts, whom Melancholy brings, 
And far on Memory's traek each wasted spent life 
flings. 

XV. 

Chalporth had seen the Pyramids sublime, 



TmK KKSTIiESS WANDKRKR. 39 

And Nature's flower gardeiis thr'Higli the world, 
In ever nation, country, land and clime, 
All Beauty's which Time's flight hath e'er unfurl'd ; 
Had stood, where swift the high avalanch, hurl'd 
Down in the flowery vale and in its maw 
Went vale's sweet lovliness in death, crush'd, curl'd, 
Into a shapeless mass 'neath its demon paw ; 
Thus passes swift away Eai-th's fruits; the Alps 
he saw. 

XVI. 

Here are the Alj-s: tall ranges of giantforms, 
And skywanl soaring in their wondrous hight. 
Triumphant conqueors of fiercest storms, 
And e'er the saint;, thougli rul'd l>y Day or Night, 
Unchang'd as e'er througii Time's swift onward flight. 
Tlius saw Chalporth, who Nature lov'dr-not Art; 
Wlieu Nature's lov'd, she's a magnificent sight, 
Th' flower in looks superb, with no fragrant part, 
Is like a beautiful girl wit-hout a feeling 
heart. 

XVIJ. 

" A man may smile, and be a villain still — " 

A truth experience often calls to mind, 

So smiling Beauty's breast a heart may fill 

That's broken ; oft 'tis Fate's decree we find ; 

A broken heart: — a victim to its kind. 

Chalportli knew all — had whlrl'd th' murderous lAiice; 

A votar;. once of Society's liollow shrine. 

Partook of banquet, revel- and the dance, 



40 THK RKSTLKSS WANDKRER. 

Foiiixi man a hyp >crit in each soft fawning 
glance. 

XVIII. 

As e'er lie likvM uiicUianging Nature still, 
With her his spirit moved, expanding free. 
Siie e'en must tire th' soul when it drin ks its fill ; 
With no genial soul, man's restless as th'sea ; 
On mount to storm the lonely, leafless tree ; 
But with a genial soul — tliat presence brigiit- 
Then, life is sweet, a dream of Love to be. 
Reflecting out like stars celestial ligiit, 
Sweet as the throbbing soul of Nature's loveliest 
night. 

XIX. 

He sickened of mankind we see, and fled, 
vSeeks Nature's smiles, soon her acquaintance made, 
Save her society now to him was dead ; 
Finds Nature true. Earth's pleasures finds seon fade ; 
Of Heaven's bliss, Earth's joys are but the sliade : 
Such is th' Almighty's power, such is His bequeath. 
Chalporth hath reach'd th' land where love t' Him is paid, 
Where Sorrow'* not, nor gloomy fears of Death, 
A land more beautiful than " Love's youngdream," 
more sweet than the Rose's breath. 

XX. 

Yes ! he had found, as mortals find at last. 
That life is short and but a passing bubble. 
And its future's but a regret for the past, 
That Man's deceiving, his world full of trouble, 
When Joy's expected, comes Sorrow her double; 



ANGKI.S' VOTOKS. 41 

Thus oft wlven over Life's crook'ti juiirnoy's striv.'ii, 
Man tiiids Earth void of peace, in death u stubble : 
Now thus \vl\en feelings all from Earth are riven, 
Where can peace be found, if we find it not in 
Heaven ? 



ANGELS' VOICES. 

With fragrant odors on the air, 

Which zephyrs to my window bear, 

There comes to me a sweet refrain. 

Seeming from off the dewy plain ; 

Angels voices silvery chiming. 

Wafting by the arbor vining. 

They sing : "O ! Man! we sympathize with tht>e. 

In thy deep depths of misery, 

And here in Heaven, wo ever pray, 

For thee, s being e'er astray, 

Whom Hope allures until Despair 

Sitsjon thy brow, remorseless there 

Oh ! then give up the hope of Earth, 

But trust that hope of Heavenlj' birth ; 

Then thou will find such bliss, thou'U see 

Earth's greatest jo^'s, but misery." 

Their voices vanish as they came, 

But Meditation leave to reign. 

6 



THE TYPHOON. 

What mean those dark clouds now hast'ning by, 
Dense shading the blue of midsummer sky ? 
Now why does he, the man at the wheel, 
Feel fear oo'r heart creep, o'er seeming to steal ! 
And why does th' lookout so painfully stare! 
Because they feel the wild pangs of Despair. 
Why does the captain shout forth his commands, 
Which each on board but too well understands ! 
Why foam the billows o'er theirbroad trackless way, 
As War horses leap to trumpet, and neigh. 
Why moans th. lone Sea, wliy dirge that wild lay ! 
' Tis caus'd by Typhoon, that storm of the Deep, 
Oft causing each sex of all ages to weep 
'Tis buasted! the waves and billows appall. 
Now roaring in mountains to fearful depths fall. 
The wild winds quiver as they speed the sea, vast, 
And Boreas roars hoarsel.y, and mad raging Blast. 
Like marsual'd hosts of fiends, demons, combin'd, 
That shriek at midnight on darken 'd black wind ; 



THE TYPHOON. 43 

A thousand ghosts in darkness gJiding by, 
Lost fugatives from Hell, wnom Heaven doth deny. 
When wizards ride the midnight rolling storm, 
And witches dance the blasted heath, forlorn. 

* ** * * * * * *• 
The billows now slacken, 'nd lessen their toes. 
But! woe ! woe ! to th' mariner, fearful his loss. 
No sounds now tell of Nature's war. 
Save wailing winds on bleak, drear shore. 
Like some lone demon ill at ease 
Who comes and goes upon the breeze, 
And shrieks : ' " 'Tis death that ends disease," 
Or some wild, restless, midnight fiend. 
Which ceaseless howls o'er thoughts demean'd, 
Seeming to wind, to tell its mellencholy eare, 

hat ever on its vitals Death was feasting there. 
Here floats the shipreek, here ch' pale, stareing face, 
And thereby th' blood-streak, the shark one can trace, 
As the remorseless visage reads plainly" Crime ; " 
Alas ! blood dies the locks, stolen from thee, O, Timei 
The storm has past o'er, th' Typhoon is undone. 
From out the blue sky, shines forth the bright sun. 
.lanuary, 1865. 



THE 

PTIAYER ^^K THE UNIVERSE, 

Thou, Ocean! in thy restlessness, 
Speak of the Throne on High, 
And in thy very heavings, bless 
The God whom men deny. 

O! thou, bright Sun! whose golden rays 

Dispel the darkest night. 

Thy prayers are many as the days, 

Thou usher into light. 

Sweet Cynthia ! thou pale orb of night — 

Whom Hesper guards, serene — 

Thou, who within thy realm of Light 

Rule starry subjects, queen. 

In Beauty, thou obeisance pays, 

To Him, who thee afar, 

Plac'd there wh = re thou enraptured stay. 

Thy diadem, a star. 



THR PRAYER OF THE UNIVERSE. 

And ye, ye glittering starry spheres! — 

A million Arguses' eyes — 

Your very presence Life endears; 

The poetry of the skies. 

In Modesty's sweet loveliness, 

The sacramental cup 

Ye fill and drink, by hope no less, 

Ye bid tbesoul look up. 

And thou, dear messdnger of Joy! 

Who spans the aerial sky, 

Thy prayers the liearts thou sweetly cloy, 

Through ages passing by. 

Not solely by thj' beauty's worth, — 

Acknowledge Age and Youth — 

Too, by that Power which gave thee birth, 

Thou say est: 'God's word is truth.' 

The mountains, by their lofty flights, 

The rivers, by their flow, 

The forests, by the pure delights, 

They offer and bestow. 

Thus Nature ever, freely gives, 

Devout, her prayers o'er Earth, 

True to herself, she nobly lives 

As God destined at birth. 



THE ANGEL I LOVE. 

Oh, Love! no inhabitant of Earth thou art — 
An unseen seraph, we believe in thee, 
A lajth whose martyrs are the broken hear'', 
But never yet hath seen, nor e ' er shall see 
The naked eye, thv form, as it should be; 
The mind hath made thee as it peopled Heaven, 
Even with its own desiring phantasy, 
And to a thought such shape and imagegiven. 
As haunts the unquenched soul, parch'd wearied, wrung 
aud riven. — Bykon. 

Oh, often in Fancy's sweet realm of bliss 

I image a loved angel there, 

A being too pure for Earth'a sinfulness, 

A Peri of Celestial air. 

And oft in the moonlight's mellow mists, 

Afar in th' Upper Deep, 

The Beauty enchanting, there exists, 

Where Seraphs guard her sleep* 



TH>: AXGRL T liOVR. 47 

A.ngelic and j^raeeful as an Elf, 
Or Sylpb in aeri?l bower, 
Her bright fae* is Beauty's fount, herself. 
Bweet as the bouifd flower, 
Her miud is Wisdom's mirror bright, 
Stored witli purest thoughts, from Fleaven; 
A spiritual form, whose robe of light 
Breathes fortli fragrant perfumes given. 
May she descend from the World afar, 
Like of old the goddess fair. 
From Heav'n came down,. a ujeteor star. 
For love whicli Earth sent there. 
When e'er .she comes I'll claim lier love 
Througii aliection's tender, lovely shrine; 
If Cupid reigns in realms above, 
Her angelic love respond to mine. 



THE 
BEAUTY'S LAST SLEEP. 

How lov'd, how honor 'donee, avails thee not, 

To whom related, or by whom begot, 

A heap of dust alone remains of thee, 

' Tis all thou art, ' tis all the proud shall be. 

POPK. 

"In the midst of life, we are in death. " 
Compos'd in sleep, a damsel lay, 
Her brow was calm, her cheek was pale, 
Her lips slight ope as though there'd stray 
Her thoughts upon the gentle gale, 
A maid of perfect health ,' twould seem, 
Where love and gen'rous impulse teem. 
She sleeps 'neath an arcadian bower 
Where perfumes from magnolia flower, 
Exhaling from its scented bed, 
No sooner come, than they have fled, 
Upon tlie restless, wanton breeze 
Which stirs each leaflet of the trees ; 
And now and then its fitfnl blow, 



THK bkauty'.s last slkkp. 40 

Exposes breasts of virgin snow, 

Or shapely swell of beautiful limb, 

Of perfect mold, extending trim 

From foot as light, and comely make 

As e'er press'd flower or snowy flake. 

With Diana's virtue, and Sappho's warm love, 

She's suited for Earth, or Heaven above. 

And though the music of the wind, 

With voices of the trees combin'd. 

Oft rise above, below each creeps, 

And still tlie Queen of Beauty sleeps. 

But hold I she stirs, go not too nigh, 

She looks a spirit of the sky. 

Be she angel, maid, nymph, naiad or grace, 

Their immortality in her face I 

Draw nearer, gaze upon hei brow ! 

Ah ! see, wing'd Death is settling now, 
Each breath in weaker volume flows, 
Each rise of bosom slower grows — 
But wake her from Death's struggling throes ; 

Why should she die? this Spring Time Rose. 

So beautiful of face, of form so fair? 

Because the seeds of Death were lurking there. 

Already she hath 'woke above. 

And with pure angels' sacred love 

Is shielded from all harm, and pain on high, 

And finds that rest for which the weary sigh. 



AUTUMNAL. 

While gently fall the leaves, 
The whisp'ring boughs o'erhead, 
Are mournfully sighing low, 
A requiem of the dead. 

The flowers, too, have faded, 
And Time has conquered all, 
Hath chang'd the summer zephyrs 
To rushing wiuds of fall. 

The harvest time is over, 
And number'd with the past. 
All nature sad and dreary, 
As roars the autumn blast. 

The barren hills and valleys 

Are records of the changes, 

With spring-bird's absent warblings 

Along the mountain ranges. 



AUTUMNAL. 51 



But where are they, th' dear oues, 
Who should be past Summer's life, 
And in year's autumnal 
Xow with hoary age be rife ! 

Most all of them have perished. 
As did the fragrant rose, 
But far unlike appear, where 
No autumn doth oppose; 

In that great world unknown 
• To no mortal that unfolds, 
Away from care, sin 'nd strife 
And this life's tempestuous shoals. 

Each sweet spring to autumn flies, 
As Time changes youth to age, 
Some recording, others none, 
Fame on Life's historic page. 
September, 1870. 



THE LOVEES' PARTING, 

The day slow gave away to niffht, 

The shatlefs of eve came down, 

But hid themselves when moon's pale light. 

Soft lit the grass plots round ; 

And shone on daisies' perfum'd beds, 

And bright on the heath flowers' dew, 

On hawthorn bush, and hairbells' heads, 

And on an ived cottage too. 

Two lovers stood at gate near by, 

Their hands were clasp'd, their lips close press, 

Cupid danc'd in each soft, dark eye, 

Mild zephyrs siir each raven tress 

That 'decks the virgin's ivory brow, 

Tosts o'er her bosom's snowy swell, 

That like respond to lover's now, 

In ara'rous sighs soft rose and fell. 



THE Trovers' parting, 58 

The nightingale sings from the hedge, 

The linnet from the cypress tree, 

While o'er and o'er the lovers pledge 

To cadence of that sweet melody. 

Their voices blend with roaring wave,. 

Beyond the fore«!t green, 

She was as fair, as he was brave, 

A beautiful pair, I ween ; 

He, brave as ever shiver'd lance. 

Handsome as lovers e'er be ; 

She, beautiful as the nymphs that dance 

At night, on the moonlit sea. 

MoNA.— Dear Beppo stay ! oh ! leave me not, 

From thee my life's e'er drear, 

In all the world there is no spot 

I love, without thee near. 

Oh ! if you'll stay, taught e'er amiss 

Would prove my love but true, 

And in the joy of that sweet bliss 

I'll live for Heav'n and you ! 
Bkppo. — Ah ! Mona sweet you know full well, 

T would not leave thee, dear, 

Could I the parting cause dispel, 

Nor draw from thee, a tear. 

With you I'd pass long life's pathway. 

Our union ne'er to sever, 

We'd live in joy 'neath sun's bright ray, 

And part! no, never, never. 



54 THK L,OVKK8 PARTING. 

MoKA. — Alas ! the gtern and hard decree, 
That Fate so sore oppress, 
To live without, or die with thee, 
The last, I will confess. 

Warm arms she threw 'round lover's neck. 

Laid head on his bosom broad. 

And thought of death, a lost shipwreck, 

And her Beppo with his God. 

Their arms enclose each other's form, 

Each heaving^breath a lovelorn sigh, 

Which told the depth ot passion warm. 

While their souls met in each dark eye; 

There read their parting and long farewell. 

Was it well to sever hearts so true, 

Wh?n it struck to them a deep, death knell ! 

Zephyrs breathe : "At least, Jehovah knew." 

Fair Mona gaz'd in Beppo's dark eyes, 

Press'd his form, met his mutual kiss ; 

They pledged their troth as true as the skies ; 

Silent, her tears fell saddened bliss. 

And that one moment of ecstatic joy 

Fond memory long would trace, 

In it no grain of base alloy, 

But Cupid's warm embrace. 

She swoon'd while slipping from his arms. 

And stagger'd while she gasp'd to stand, 

And prayed that God would; shield from harm, 

He that last clasped her soft white hand. 



THE DECREE OF FATE. 56 

9he anxiously gaz'd to the left and right, 
And look'dfor the one she adored, 
But he had gone in the gloom of night. 
Would he e'er in life be restored ! 
She thought in silence, this pensive maid, 
A« she walk'd to the low cottage door, 
We've parted ! would to God he had staid, 
O ! God ! will we meet on earth e'er more? 



THE DECREE OF FATE. 

The golden God had wheel'd his car 
Far over the western wave, 
And Twilight flung each sparkling star 
To Sky' which Beauty gave. 

Pale Cj'nthia wore her dimmer glow, 

Smil'd sweet 'mid her starry tears 

On coming Night, and World below 

With its empty Joys an d fears. 

A beautiful spot of valley glade, 

ReceiT 'd of Eve a share 

Of Beauty's gifts, Night's spheres had made 

On Earth, and in the air. 



56 THK DECREE OF FATE. 

Here, cottage held a noble soul. 

So did castle dim aud gray, 

Both hid Within the valley's goal, 

Where oft fairy wood nymphs stray. 

Warmth, in two hearts responsive sprun'/, 

When flew fond Cupid's dart ; 

A bridge o'er Gold's deep gulf Love flung. 

Fate's billows dashed apart. 

A Beauty lay with stamp of Death 
Depicted on her brow, 
And slower came each painful breath, 
Which mock'd Life's moments now. 

Here, bending o'er that lorm so fair 
Which lay in Wealth's soft bed, 
Was one who'd breathed Earth's stinted air, 
'Though light of soul just fled. 
He bent his head in agony o'er 
The heart so pulseless still'd. 
And felt that joy would come no more. 
Where one sweet soul had fill'd. 
Oh ! thus it is on Earth, we find 
A glow of transient light. 
Absorbing heart, and soul and mind, 
To vanish in Death's dark night. 
In wanderings oft through Fancy's realms, 
He saw, and he felt in the breeze, 
Her spirit so pure, which haunted th' elms. 



mankind's common DKSTIN^. •)' 

Of vale, with its whispering trees. 

This taught his f^oul to Heavenward sore, 

As Peris long the angels to greet, 

Spotless and white, was the robe slif wore, 

And Love's fond smile, which said: "We'll meet." 



xMANKIND'B 

COMMON D E S T I N Y 

Fate has wove the thread of life with pain, 
And twins e'en from the birth are misery and man ! 

— Pope's Homkk. 

Poor human destiny, when it's truly told, 
Is both the same to the young and old, 
Whate'er the age, the sex or condition, 
Are subject to mortal dissolution. 

From king and queen upon the throne, 
To wretched miser all alone. 
The maid in her .secluded dell, 
And convict in his dismal cell, 

8 



58 mankind's COMMOri DESTINY. 

Whether highwayman of the road, 
Or preacher of religious code. 
The lord and lady of high estate. 
And lowly beggar of groveling fate. 

The dark-eyed houri of poetic rhyme, 

Her blue-eyed sister of a coldtr clime. 

The famous warrior with his helmet battered, 

And helpless imbecile of memory shattered. 

From the monarch in deadliest feuds, 
To the savage in deep solitudes. 
The traveler who dotli always roam, 
And castway in his exiled home. 

A host in all; to all, death, is their doom, 
Whose ultimate end is the shrouded tomb, 
With destin'd winds, wafting Life's sails unfurled 
Through mysterious portals of Unseen World. 

September, 1869. 



THE CITY OF THE DEAD. 

Can storied urn, or animated bust, 
Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath ? 
Can Honor's voice provoke the silent dust, 
Or Flattei-y soothe the dull, cold ear of Death '? 

— Gray. 

' Twas solemn at night and all was still, 
The moon shone bright o'er distant hill, 
And one by one each modest star, 
Was faintly glim 'ring from afar, 

As stood I where my wanderings led, 
'Midst grav--! of the departed dead, 
And thought in meditation deep, 
Of how they took their awful leap ; 

That good had gone the paths of right, 
Wich angels now, 'joy heaven's dfelight. 
The wicked, where, oh ! where are they? 
' Tie mockery for man to say. 



60 THE CITY OF THE DEAD. 

But hark ! there falls a di&tant lay, 
Of sounds now mingling far away, 
' Tis voices of the hallow'd Night, 
Which well has sped its onward flight, 

Which rise in anthems on the breeze, 
That from the South in wilduess flees, 
And rushing o'er the glistening lake, 
From musings now doth me awake. 

The loose leaves rustle from their boughs, 
And quivering fall to other mows, 
While from the oak or saplin shoot. 
The solemn owl sends dismal hoot. 

The bleeting of tiie folded sheep. 
And rumbling low of roaring deep 
Are wafted o'er the blasted heath. 
Away from far oflT ocean reef; 

And many sounds both wild and wierd, 
That superstitious long have feared. 
And long on the night air dwelt the roar, 
Like shrieks from dark Plutonian shore. 

Then from the grove which southward lies, 
Is heard the dove that plaintive crie.s. 
Sweet odors born on zephyr winds, 
Enhal'd by me the dead unminds. 



TH« CITY OF »HE DEAD. 61 

The night by them unheeded passed, 
And on the wings of Time flew fast, 
But when appears approaching dawn, 
Still will those sleepers, slumber on. 

' Tis their last sleep, the morn may break, 
Alas ! ne'er will the dead awake, 
Until that last and fearful day, 
When sinful earth shall pass away. 

From darkest woods a solemn Blast, 
Now sadly moan'd as it went past. 
Shuddering coldly, while night yet fled, 
Hastely I left the slumb'ring Dead. 
October, 1870, 



THE M AISTI A C, 

The maniac sprang from off his bed, 
And plac'd his hand upon his brow. 
"I feel within my pouI is dead" — 
His mind is wandering now. 

"Fiend! open the door — unbar! unbar I — 
Why am I chain'd by arm to floor ?— 
But, see ! there's one bright sliining star ! 
Which kindly guards my prison door — 

"It stands a sentinel, silent there ; 
With pity looks from its bright eye, 
Down on me in my desi^air — 
Ah ! tliere's a serpent on the sky — 

"It's crawling, like the crawl of Death — 

It coils ; now buries in a cloud — 

I feel its poisoned, feted breath ! 

It makes me think of the burial shroud — 



A DREAM. 63 

"Hark ! hark ! I hear, T feel in the air, 
Fiends demon?, dragons, and devils! 
Why tarry with rae in ray despair? 
Why not seek their dark, wild revels ? 

'But still they stay — behold ! I see !— 
But, this is madness, my keepers tell — 
O ! from out this prison, free me ! 
Why make my living death, a hell? 



A DREAM. 

Deluding vision of the night. 
—Pope. 

A"dream, I dreamt, the other night, 
When birds of darkness, take their flight, 
Enwrap'd I lay in shady fold, 
At nightly hour when spirits stroll, 
Or demon lost on howling Blast, 
Strange phantoms from the wasted Past. 
I thought I gazed at changeful sky, 
And watch'd the dark clouds floating by. 



64 A DBEAM. 

And lay and saw the pale moon stray, 

Through Heaven's broad and trackless way. 

I gazed upon the rolling waves, 

Beneath, saw Deep's unfathoni'd eaves, 

Then counted the Celestial spheres. 

Reminding- me of absent years ; 

Of days and deeds, that's past and lost, 

Like snows which melt, and glist'ning frost. 

Oft set'ling on the mountains' brow. 

In vale, are creeping waters now. 

Saw angelic acts by sons of God, 

By those who in the right path trod. 

And saw 'neath moonbeam's shadow'd sheens, 

Carousals wild, of many fiends, 

Low sunk in deepest depths of sin, 

The darkest hosts of Pluto's kin. 

Heard loud sounds of fiercest might, 

Commingling with soft moan of Night. 

Also saw friends I long to see, 

In vision, who are far from me. 

Amidst those many dear friends of 3- ore, 

Saw images of some, I'll see no more; 

'Though soul may wish till mind doth madly craze, 

They're hid from all, save Fancy's frenzied gaze. 

Thus visions pass, resplendent play. 

Like light from Heaven, snatch 'd away. 

The Night has passed, bright comes Day's beam, 

I woke to find, at last, a Dream 



MORNING. 

Hail ! holy Light ! oflfspring of Heave«'^^ firstborn. 

— Milton. 

The SuQ has chaa'd the Night away, 
Beyond the dim horizon's blue, 
The larkspur's nodding to the lay, 
Of .sad dove's melanoholy coo. 

The humming birds, fly o'er the heath. 
And sip the sweets from each wild flower ; 
From oflTthe mount and valley 'neath, 
The smoke from dwellings, Heavenward tower, 

The songsters of the morn, have tuned 
Their ready instruments' anew, 
And in sweet carols have communed, 
E'er since the sun first peep'd in view. 

Now Nature's 'woke from out her sleep, 
And hath begun the busy day, 
The glowworm to its hole did creep, 
The solemn owl hath hid away. 



OG 



EVENING. 

The nightii)gale hath took l)is flight, 
He's waiting in some forest tree, 
For coming sombre sliades of night. 
To carol forth his welcome glee. 

Off in the "hiigy l)au))ts of Man," 
Out on the wide and rolling Sea, 
All nature and all life, but can 
Spealv wf'll of their creator, Thee. 



EVENING. 

Light thickens ; and the crow 
Makes wings to the rookywood. 

— Shakespkark . 

Night soft Celestials now combine. 

To brightly light prairie's stretching field; 

The vesper's chime and low of kine, 

Swell on the breeze, along soft zephyrs steal. 

And sounds now seem to float above — 
Where mournfully cries the plaintive dove — 
And sweetly float through dim arcades, 
And waft beyond their silent shades, 



KVKNING. 

With other voices nightly weiive; 
BuMinie the tokens of tlie eve. 
Fair Luna from lier home on high, 
Smiles sweetly on the passer-by. 

And golden sheens of starry spheres, 
Like bright translucent falling tears, 
That glisten the repentant's lid, 
Bedeck the zenith's face amid. 

Summer's twilight paints the scene, 
Rock, hill and mountain, vale between, 
In far more gorgeous hues tlian glow 
From Titian, Raphael, or Angvlo. 

Some bird of darkness in its lligiil. 
Oft startles far, the ear of Night, 
And hushed in stillness with the air 
The .soul feels lightened of its care. 

Ah ! then commune with Nature's gifts, 
'Tisthen the soul ofttimes far lifts 
Toward God, the truest one to trust, 
A friend more true than friends of dust. 
M»reh, ia71. 



AK ODE TO THE BEAD. 

Dear friend ! companion of my j'outh, 

Can it be so that thou art gone? 

Alas ! it is the solemn truth, 

Thou died in manhood's early dawn. 

In springtime when the wild flowers wave 

Their sweets o'er thy hallowed bed, 

They'll mutely speak from off thy grave 

To passers by ; " A soul hath fled." 

In falling teai's thy parents mourn 

The absence of their only son : 

Thou left this world but to be born 

In that far brighter, holier one. 

Thy sisters feel death's sudden blow. 

And miss their brother from their sight, 

And yet, they, as all christains know 

Will meet thee where no shadow'd night ; 

Beyond the portals of the tomb, 

In those bright courts of Heaven above, 

Where there is ever vacant room, 

And God's e'erlasting, constant love. 

[ knew him well in days now flown, 

A christain in heart and soul was he; 



8TII.L UNTThjd, THOUC4H DEATH PAKTED' 69 

Ah ! few of earth can less atone, 
For sins of Life's uncertainty. 
Then weep not relatives and friends, 
For Howard's peacefully at rest, 
His voice in holy anthem blends 
With choirs angelic, Heaven's blest. 
January, 1872. 



STILL UNITED, 

The Day had ^one, the Night came on, 

Beneath the white moonshine. 

The stars shone bright, like fire at night, 

On mount, where shadows twine. 

The sea was deep, the cliff was steep, 

Two mortals were near, on shore. 

A girl sat there, her brow was fair, 

Her lover, his presence bore. 

Upon the brink, where wild birds drink 

Sweet odors from passing wind, 

A. flower grew, sweet, fresh and new, 



70 STIT.I. UNITED, THOUGH DEATH PARTED. 

Like reasons Childhood's mind. 

"Oh! see! dear heart, how zephyrs start 

And toss tliac flower which yonder grows." 

So spoke the maid — admiration paid — 

Her eyes beheld, and she long'd the Rose. 

She sprang from her seat, on her airy feet, 

And closer drew to the scented plant, 

Ere her partner knew, her wish in view. 

Or for what, her heart did'longing, pant. 

He cries, "Forebear, " 'tis lost on air, 

And shadows which seaward fall. 

Naught can save her now, from the brittle brow. 

The warning's a useless call ; 

The cliff unwarning, surely gives awaj' ; 

In her hand, the flower, forms a lovely bower, 

A moment forms, then dissolves in Ocean's spray. 

In wild suspense, and fear dumb'd sense, 

Entranc'd the lover this frightful tableau sees. 

But when it had passed, then horror at last 

Woke him, 'though he felt his heart's blood freeze. 

He ran, to go where the beach was low, 

And loosed from her moorings, there, 

A strong swift boat, which waves gently float, 

Now wildly on sea, doth stare. 

He saw her dark Iccks, 'neath the hard, white rocks, 

He hasten'd' and drew her drench'd form in th' boat. 

But, 'twas, alas ! too late, for destin'd had Fate, 

Her spirit should leave the fleshy coat. 

'Though her body had died, and Death satisfied, 

Her beautiful spirit is living still ; 



stilij unitk]>, though death parted. 71 

And stood on the wave, where her live body gave, 

To Death, its healthy bliime, to kill. 

Shelook'd pale, sweet, and her phantom feet, 

Was unwet by the watery spray. 

She look'd as white, as water sprite. 

As robes in which angels pray. 

When first Tonill eyes saw in surprise, 

His seemingly living, own Irene, 

First doubting his mind, at length he did find 

The truih, and his heart, to joy, died within. 

As dead as th' corse of his earthly love. 

In voice near mute, like soft ton'd lute. 

Floating unseen, like seraphs move, 

Irene's spirit, thus said — a voice from the dead—* 

Thus sweetly she spoke unto lonill : 

"Oh ! list to my voice, thy spiritual choice, 

Oh! heed! wilt thou uot?" in agony he said: ''I will.' ' 

•'Then please dear love, my body move, 

And place it where my parents lay. 

Give not up thy breath unto remorseless Death, 

Haste not thy end through love for me. 

I'll guard thy slumbers, when sleep encumbers, 

When thy time has come, I'll come fur thee." 

Then to him she camo, appearing the same, 

A"u plac'd on his lips a kiss. 

Which seem'd to him warm, 'though of a spiritual form. 

Then she wept o'er her lover, knowing his woe. 

And drop'd a tear, o'er her own bier, 

While pity from her eyes did glow. 

Then on him she smiled such a lovely smile, 

As angels smile on a child of sin, 



72 STILI. UNITED, THOUGH DEATH PARTKD. 

When from a wayward course, in deep remorse, 
Repents, lamenting what might have been. 
She then faded from sight, in the pale moonlight, 
Like th' vision of a lovely dream. 
In sorrow lonill, his misson did fill, 
He buried corse of th' pale Irene, 
Where silence falls on ghostly palls. 
Her parents he laid her between. 
Years since have gone, lonill liv'd on. 
Remembering his Irene still, 
He travel'd, 'nd on, where all suns dawn. 
And where all nights their missions fill. 
At length there came, a warning flame ; 
A feeling, while he was oflTafar, 
That he must go home, no longer to roam, 
He knew that it was his setting star. 
Home ! to his natal spot, returned he to that grot, 
Where he'd sat with Irene on that fatal night, 
The World, Night chain'd, 'nd the Star Queen reign'd 
The Moonlight slept in peace, alone. 
The clouds afar, aerial mountains, are, 
Each star on the breast of Darkness shone. 
A maiden's spirit appear'd, to lonill endear'd, 
And commun'd with him awhile. 
Then they enter'd a boat, with spectres afloat, 
Where each face wore a spiritual smile. 
They shipp'd with that phantom crew, 
lonill's mortality fled, became of the dead, 
And now he is a spirit, too. 



A DIRGE, 

Aud who can grieve too much ? What time shall end, 
Our mourning for so dear a friend V — Crkkch. 

Another soul hath fled the sorrow'd earth, 
And sought the realms of Heav'ii above 
There now liath found a second brighter birth, 
'A'he life of Heaven's sweet, undying love. 
Tread lightly, softly, on the new made grave, 
The silent sleejier sleeps his slumber last. 
No more to toss on earthly time's spent wave, 
Earth's sorrows, cares and troubles all are past. 
What! is he dead? is uttered soft and still, 
But, why should he in life so early die? 
'Tis His, the Christ of Mercy's loving will, 
3e needed him in Heaven's azure sky. 
Will this suflflee for sympatlietic hearts. 
That fondly cherish each noble thought 'nd idle whim, 
Will this ease pain when Death so ruthless parts? 
Will this replace that joy they've lost on earth iu him •> 
At first ! ah ! no ; 'twas ne'er intended so, 

10 



74 The olosr op pay. 

W e weep for tli ose w h o n re I )or ii v 1 1 ( r e t ne ] h f. d w > IJ , 
Time must to sluidow'd past, liesternal grow, 
A.nd grieving hearts with niu-istian iiglit o'erswell 
Ere we can see cliat death, but means to live 
Where Sorrv>w never comes, where miseries ne'er infest. 
That tfe who gave, hut takes again to give, 
That it is God's wise decree, ar,d foi the very best. 
May, 1872. 



THE CLOSE OF DAY, 

The moon from out the East doth peep, 
The sun's low wheeling o'er the Deep, 
The stars are scntter'd in the sky, 
The mountains rear their heads on high. 
The vale is enrtain'd and asleep, 
The brook and river onward creep, 
Sounds soft and low, the tinklii.g fold, 
Loud barks tlie watch c'og fierce and bold. 
The owlet shrieks from out the brakes, 
The frog the drowsy cricket wakes. 
The nightingale its melody 
Sends from out the hawthorn tree. 
Here is the well, and there the stile, 



THE VENDETTA. 75 

Where rustic Beauty's hours wile. 

But ! Day has gone, black Night has come, 

In silent (iarliiiess reignetii on. 



THE VENDETTA. 

IN FIVE CAiTOS. 

PREFACE 

The peculiar custom ot retalisition denominated Vendetta, sanc- 
tioned by the religious siipt-rslition of the Coraicans, is Ihe theme on 
whi ;h this pDeniis foiiiidail. Ye.irshive elap-sed since two certain 
Corsican families bteiinie vii> hostile toward each other, through a 
fler !e quarrel arisinff between two individuals, (members oT the re- 
spective families) , ending in murder. GelnoreGonzailes the leading 
character of thi^ poem and the lastsui'viviug member of one of these 
Vendettas, was < ompelled to fly liis country for safety. He became 
acorsair infirder to accomplish tlie fulllilmcnt ofhis Vendetta oalh, as 

that S] here oil if<' setniidtoofl'er the sure.st and most available means. 
Id which capacity (hat end whs efiecled by slaying all of the remain- 

mg connection olthe 01 lotiii.g Vnidttiii, nr.d oblittriiliLghis ovr 

vith his life. 
April 3, 1872. 



76 THV; VRNDKTTA. 

ADDITION TO THE PREFACE 

Ii» this production, I beg the indulgence of the reader, ( though 1 may 
not that of the critic), since this poem was comi^leled -within three 
weeks from the time of its conception. I would liave consumed more 
time upon it before presenting it to the public, but after having written 
rhepoem as it now is, itso little compared with wliati had anticipated 
that I abandoned it ; however, liiiding on submitting my manuscript 
for publication, thatmy voliim.' will be ratiier diminutive, I insert 
the poem here in order to increase the size, hoping the reader m^y 
■see somethingjto interest him or her, by a perusal of it. 

DEDICATION. 

Friends*, whom I've met in past Day's social fete, 
[n thought, I'm wand'ring o'er sweet Memory's track 
With you .through yest of Time's e'erchangintr date ; 
Those vi.sta visions fondly 'lure me back. 
'Though pain's allied with pleasure of tiiis dream, 
Undira'<l as e'er from off my clinging mind, 
Prom out the sorrow Joy doth brightly gleam ; 
On Earth, where's Joy and Sorrow not combin'd ? 
Oh ! breathes one spot, Man's home remote or near, 
One spot more beautiful than Earth elsewhere, 
Where Joy doth ever make that home most dear, 
Where like near neighbors come not Misery and (^are? 
if such their doth exist, Oh ! give me this, 
Poetic Fancy's visionary bliss. 
In fond respect for you, for friendship dear, 
And all those joys which meeting you would bring, 
With hopes, once more e'er spirit takes its wing, 
To meet with you while on this mortal sphere. 
With wish your joys may have no treacherous sting, 



THK VKKDKTTA. 77 

That to th' Vendetta's aut]!..r you may clin.t,^, 
Addre.sH'd are you iu dedication here. 

CANTO THE FIRST. 

Parnassus ! thou from whom each pilgrim Muse, 

The glory of the Poet to diffuse, 

Hath loiig'd to wave it) joy her glorious wing — ' 

Thus to thy Heavenly shrine fresh laurels bring— 

I claim of thine — in truth — to simply be 

A great admirer, an humble votary : 

Thou pinnacled o'er world— the Muses' seat — 

Warm'd by theglow of fire — Celestial heat — 

Fame sits enthron'd on thy far glitt'ring brow, 

As ages she hath sat, so sits she now. 

If not with fire from Heaven Prometheus stole, 

And fed in punishment the secret soul 

With pangs which tort'rous Hell's remorse inflicts, 

That works with cank'rous deeth — no hope restricts — 

At least, with fire as ardent in glare. 

My Muse may soar in the Upper Air. 

When stars are reflecting through twilights dim glow 
From ocean's broad bosom, that dark ceaseless flow. 
At evening, before the grim shadows of night 
Have spectre-like follow'd in wake of the light ; 
AVhen mournf'ly, the soul feels that sad, pensive air, 
When mingle so s-yveetly, Joy, Hope and Despair, 
Rise thoughts of the dead, the absent and lost, 
Which crowding on, come; o'er memory toss. 



78 THE VENDETTA. 

'Though some thvougli the vortex of ^Misery gleam, 

Whijh be-!t w^n disp :)'53i of in L'r'fche'^i sweet stream. 

The pleasures and pains of tlie Past gliding by, 

A tribute sliotild claim thougl" it be but a sigh. 

The eve was such, far out up on tlie sea, 

Where waves roll calm, now tossing boundlessly , 

Feel free — unfettered— brook no small control, 

Like one 'tiiough kind, of proud and lofiy soul. 

Now dasliinp wihjly 'gainst colossal rocks, 

Leave rolling roar, as thougli some demon mocks; 

Then placid roll, and seem a dying sigh 

Of some lone spirit onward passing liy ; 

A bark bears on with loomini sails and cuiy 'ring shrouds, 

A piiantom picture, tioatiup sliailowy in the clouds. 

As light as Pegasus, 'though b;eezy his flight. 

Through realms of Phoebus through regions of Night, 

Still onward skimming, s\\ iitly dotli fly 

Past Iris' sentinel percli in the sky, 

Where proudly lonmii:g Earth and Heaven between* 

Ida's distant brow unsullied now is seen ; 

Beholds faint througli mist like glow of a star, 

The distant dim shores of Ilion afar. 

Through ■^■elkin hears a mournful sad wail, 

Tlie sound of Triton's trump o'er the gale. 

* * * * *■* * * * * 
The free wild life— the bark— M>e boundless sea, 
Whicl- mark the course v)f they, the IJolJ and Free,* 
Who sail unsw- y'd — by Timo — i)y leave of power, 
A life of crime and blood— Pale victim cower— 

♦The Buccaneer. 



THE VKNDETTA. 79 

Tc no petty ruler of the flet^ting liour, 

Do they allegiance or alliance owe, 

'Tis death to all, to each, to every f<»e, 

And that grim banner* flying to the breeze, 

Would make in all the Wixrmpst heart's blood freeze. 

Sad was the soul ot tiie chicflain Gnnzailes, 

Lost on his ( ars were the Ocean's wild wails, 

He stood on the deck like a lone tow'ring rock; 

Amid the wild storm in the hurricane's shock, 

A vacant stare slept down deep his eye, 

Soul foreign the man as earth to the sky. 

Plain to friend and foe and passer-by, 

There crouch'd a sleeping demon in his eye. 

Which when arous'd, the wildest, fiercest shocks 

Of Nature's wrath, but faintly, feebly mocks. 

The Dolp'iint sped on through yest of the waves, 

Left foam in her wake, each soft ripple laves, 

"Land he !" shrieks lookout, far up in the shrouds ; 

A. pliantom, he looks, a ghost in the clouds. 

A moment scarce fled, when out on the lea 

Of deck, rose pirates, like ftends from theses. 

Black in his hat each proudly wore a plume. 

Reflection of tlie h'^art— to deatli we doom — 

They sought aglympse of their green islaud home. 

Where only was found nefenthe alone ; 



•The Pirate Flag 
tThe Pirate Ship. 



HO THK V'KN'DRTTA. 

Tiie wine cup oft'riug what else doth withhold, 

Forgetfuluess found in flow of the bowl; 

Intemperance to them tlie only resource, 

A Letiie to drown pain, grief, and remorse ; 

A dear bought boon, for with tenfold force. 

Next Misery conies, in Nature's course; 

As wealth the miser ge s, though all else is the cost ; 

\yho gains: whfit murders Happiness, fearfully hath lost, 

As Man did Woman gain, l\er price a future H*-\\ ; 

Who can with truth deny tliat Man by Woman fell? 

4'r * * ir * * * * * 

With mod€s-t blush fair Cynthia bid the Night adieu, 

Phoebus comes to light Aurora 'nd mother Dawn to view. 

The isle they ne^tr grows i)!ainer to tlie sighi, 

And shows the cannon ope mouth 'd for the fight, 

Prepa r'd for battle, sliould a battle call, 

Deliance breathing from the beatling wall . 

And too — with coat of arms* — the blood-red flag 

Floated proudly out from its rocky crag. 

Reflecting' Hades — painted Iti its glare — 

And read no mercy but to all Despair. 

Jf'rom ship to shore — from shore to ship — a cheer. 

Paid back the sender with a note as clear, 

When siiout on shout ty these approaching friends 

Ke-echo'd from the mounfains to the glf ns. 

Behold the joy ! unswept from Time's face-track, 

Which 'lures the wanderer in mercory back. 

The crowd on sh >re, the island guard, were men who dare 



♦The Skull and Crossbones. 



THE VENPKTTA. 81' 

And women's softer presence also welconi'd therw. 
YeLtliatsweet jry was fraug^ht with tort'rous mental 

pain, 
As wildly o'er tlu- ship their flashing eyehalls strain, 
For husbands, lovers, friends — if sleeping 'neath the 

main — 

'Gainst hope they fear'd ; for doth not each eorssir, 

His life, his earth, his heaven doubly dare? 

The smile, tlie kiss, the fond caress jeturning, 

Each wanton couple now Hymenial burning, 

Soon sought the flowery grove in secret shade, 

A perfum'd bower for love, love longdelay'd. 

We leave to them fond Cupid's sylvan bower. 

Where Love and Passion rule th'cytherean hour. 

But where is he, Gonzales? had he no one 

'Midst all the fair — to cheer— as others done ? 

Ah ! yes ! but one more favor'd of her sex, 

Not her desire, but wish of he who decks 

Her snow3' neck and arms, with jewels rare, 

Who lessen'd sadness, sooth'd each sorrow's care. 

High stood a tower, old, looming in the sky, 

Colossal growth of man's ingenuity. 

And long the dim gray castle in the gloom. 

Had towering jiodded to Ihe nightly moon. 

Erected by some misanthrope of old, 

It well had stood the threats of Heat and Cold 

For generations, since long ages had flown, 

While owl and bat jointi.y had called it their own. 

From it Queen Luna in her sweetest taint, 

Hath heard the distant night bird's soft complaint, 
11 



82 THE VENDKTTA. 

And watch dog oft at Night's lone liourly noon, 

Here hoarsely bay'd tlie silent midnight moon ; 

Or when the scowling Tempest shot across, 

The startled shriek of eaglets' waking toss, 

High nestled in the tower, midway from the storm, 

Feel now th' damp cold wind wliich chills each naked 

form. 
Chance led the bold pirate. Chance found the lone isle^ 
Deserted by man, 'tiiough liv'd Nature's smile. 
As shields a mother with tlie fondest of care. 
From Earth's unprincipled votaries there, 
A beautiful daughter, virtuous and chaste, 
So Nature th' isle hid in wild Ocean's waste. 
A spot of earth in the Tropical clime, 
A spot unchang'd to all save Time. 
A nameless isle to World, unknown ; 'though sweet 
To those who call'd it the "Corsair's Retreat". 
And here — in dreams a spirit said — 
Soft Night with Darkness ne'er had fled, 
Than Nature's muisic sweetly born, 
Came wafting where bright tears are shed 
By lovely, weeping eyes of Morn, 
E'er beautiful although in tears so sad ; 
Herself is Beauty, gay or melancholy mad. 
Are these the tears of joy or grief 
Which add new beauty to flower and leaf! 
They bath commingle, ever, fondly, sweetly there, 
Thus genially with soul of Happiness or Care, 
Tho' Hope guides th' bark of Life, tho' at th' helm 

Despair, 



THK VENDKTTA. 83 

TJmsNaturesympathi.ses wiih what Man must bear. 
Pomona and Flora here propitious grew, . 
Ambrosial and amaranthine perfumes, too. 
Along each stream, prolific tliere, 
In gorgeous splendor flourished sweet parterre. 
Here in the hit hts of the vvatcli tower bespoke, 
Liv'd Inez the lovely, there her sweet voice awoke 
Tlie stillness of the twiliirht hour, between, 
When sweetly smiles the lone Night's silent queen. 
Thus sang tlie Beauty in lur bower, I ween : 
"Come in thy chasteness, Diana, come, 

Come in thy beauty, pale starry one. 

Come in yoi r glory, ye nightly* orbs, 

Come where a passion the lieart absorbs. 
"Come in your glory ye nightly orbs. 

Come where a passion the heart absorbs. 
"Come in thy glorious day beams. Light, 

Come in thy robes of splendor, Night! 

For ever the ?ame, O Time ! art Ihou, 

My lover's absent, far from me now. 
"For ever the same, O Time ! art thou 

My lover's absent, far from me now. 
A sad and plaintive air for that one far away 
Amid the scoiin of battle, or wild winds' fitful play ; 
On© wedded to a crime— the fetters linked b^' Fate — 
Death only could unbind that chain of scarlet Ate.* 
The hour of infancy, saw stamp'd upon his brow, 
A fate he could not fling from ofiThis memory now — 



*The Goddess of Kevenge. 



84 THE VKNDRTTA. 

An oath of reMcion, bouiid, cemented by a vow. 
Tlieii judge him not in pride, injquick'nd liasty scorn. 
Nor slie who clung to liini in tie of Pasj^ion's morn, 
Proud Beauty of gas-ligiit, to wealth wedded 'nd born, 
Since fate was his — since for Love she had really given 
Her all on Earth to him, and risk'd her chance for 

Heaven. 
E'en as she sang there came the thought, a painful fetir, 
"Willi e'er meet again him whom n^.y heart holds 

dear?" 
Thus ne'er does Love's purejoy sway Mortal's fickle 

heprt, 
Than fearful Nature th' poison doth instill 
Of sickning Misery, in dreamy Cupid's dart. 
Afraid Earth's temporal pleasui'es may so fill 
Deluded heart and soul, that Christ forgot, 
Tlie soul is lost to Heaven, itsdestin'd lot. 
Did Love exist which reall3^ shared with Heaven its 

Earth, 
'Though misery's innate, its foatas might ne'er have 

birth ; 
A state supremely blest, but ah ! seraphic now. 
Too much of Heaven on Earth Man's devil'^ won't allow. 
'Though Pleasure's dream delays, retards the blow, 
Slow comes or bursts in fury. Misery's grief and woe. 
And mingle more or less with th' joy of world belo\v. 
[f Inez failed perfection— ah ! who of Earth pray are? 
There glow'd, as through th' darkness at midnight 

glows a star. 



* His restless and peevish nuturc. 



THV; VEXrtKTTA. 85 

One virtue from her faults too priceless to be bought, 
Charity ! that virtuo — seraphic is the thought — 
Her mirror eyes of Beauty's sweetest mold, 
Reflecting image of her tender soul, 
Needs but the call or object shown, 
When Chai ity her heart dotli own — 
As kiss of zephyr on hidden bloom, 
Dofcli scatter abroad its sweet perfume. 

CANTO THE SECOND. 

.\h! here's what allures — here's what entices — 
Leads man to virtue or deep into vices — 
Nosylph nornymph more graceful could be 
Than Inez th' beautiful Pearl of the Sea. 
A pearl slie was if perfection implies, 
Her lips were carmine, darli lustre her eyes ; 
With brow as fair as lilly which blows, 
Or airy flake on the mountain's repose; 
Carnation cheek, smile of love, teeth of pearl, 
A being look'd she from Heavenly world. 
Hair hue 'twixt hyacinth and raven's plume — 
From Paradise an angel stra.y'd — Fate's doom ! 
Like a pearl she was found on the dark rolling sea, 
And the only one saved from the wreck of the Bee ; 
Which ere it went down, nobly struggled to live- 
Hope cheers e'en tliedA'ing and asks Heaven to give. 
As deep in its vitals was buried a knife, 
The vessel plung'd wildly — a creature of life 
Apparently suffering the deepest of ijain, 



86 THE VRNDKTTA. 

A gasp, a shriek, then down, down in the main 
With Inez's mother, Count Galvo, her lord, 
Deep, deep beneith s ^a«, were born all on board, 
Excepting young Countess Inez Galvo, 
In sorrow was left, in deepest of woe. 
Lash'd to a spar by lov'd ones wlio'd given 
Her life, she was Itlss'd with a sigli and a tear, 
Consign'd to mercies of waves and Heaven, 
With wild prayer following, "that no watery bier 
Might steal ths life frora lier delicnte form, 
That" — the balance was lost in shriek of tlie storm . 

******* -x-** 
The Dolpliirv sail'd to'ard her homeward isle, 
Each ripple lit by a sunbeam's smile. 
Accustom 'd to gazing far out o'er the deep, 
Where zephyr? sigh softly and foam waters creep, 
'Neath Gonzailes' ej^'esfell the dark tresses and form 
Of the Countess— a pearl cast up by the storm — 
Snatch 'd from Death by the cliief, Life came again 

warm. 
Bay ye 'twas strange, that with heart she gave all 
To him whosav'd from dark Death aud the pall? 
That solely her affections were centered on one, 
Each sigh of pain or pleasure, his and his alone ? 
********** 
What is that which allures the wanderer on, 
When vanish'd and lost Earth's pleasures are gone! 
'Tis Hope, the greatest of Terrestial things, 
And sweet is that life, where broad waves her bright 
wings. 



THI-; VKNDKTTA. St 

She oft helps tli' sot from the gutter's low mud, 

And cheers him o'er dark Alcoiiol's flood. 

Go thou to that ouesteep'd in deepefst of vice ; 

To gaml)ler who stakes on his cards and his dice. 

To all the lost, miserable, in vc^rtex of crime, 

There Hopeoft aliev-ates tlie filth of its slime. 

To she, tiie fair penant, ^f isfortune's frail aaughter, 

PcintHope, 'twill vanish her cares, like on th' water, 

The bubbles that rise a moment to lave. 

Then drown to sight where o'er sparkles the wave. 

Like seaman becalm'd feels his cheeks warmer grow 

When first breathes the monsoon's periodical blow. 

A thing itself of none or little worth. 

Through memory grows priceless as Heaven's sweet 

gift; 
So circumstance oft sorrows change to mirth, 
From pit Despair doth Hope pale Melancholy lift. 

Go to the lowly, thehigli, poor, rich and rare, 

More or less hope gleams out from depths of Despair. 

Despair cries " it is useless " Life's buidensome song, 

Hope meekly says •'Thou'll conquer, with Faith, 
journey on." 

As oft is felt the changeful, silent power, 

When lost in dreams king Somnus claims the hour. 

'Tis niglit, black, dread, and deep, profound. 

One flies the lir, now skims the ground, 

A stranger to himself he seems, 

His brain with vagaries wild now teams, 

He thus draws near a gulf of horrors, 

And even then, wild Fancy borrows, 

For soon Hell optns to the gaze, 



88 THE VENDETTA. 

There sounds and sights the senses craze. 

Hell's minionS, ghastly, grinding crew, 

Now bursts in terror on the view. 

The soul feels lost, it fjills supine, 

Despair half reigning in the mind. 

(Stern Pluto claims, disdainful, proud. 

But now from Heaven's parting cloud, 

In hallow'd light the faintest ray, the darkened Earth 

might crave, 
More glorious far (han all terrestial spheres combin'd 

e'er gave, 
Almight3' God appears in sight e'er waves, 
Spealvsdread, profound," 'Tis Faith alone thatsaves." 
Like wolves when foil'd of prey for which they prowl, 
Th' Plutonian nost, each face a low'ring scowl, 
Now disappear'd with dismal, baffled liowl. 
The soul revives, it feels the pvTwer, 
Faith dwelt with it from natal hour, 
Thus Great Jehovah doth o'erwhelm sin's host, 
And saves his own fi'om Plato's dreary coast. 
E'en in distemperd dreams we often find, 
That faithful Hope o'er comes the terrors of the mind. 

Long Inez hoped 'jnid fears, through each day 

While Time in his course drew hisslow lengthaway. 

The .sybaritic siren's passion burns, 

She sighs for her lover's soft returns. 

Thus even while she sigh'd Gonzales as warm, 

Was hast'ning to clasp her melting form, 

And that anticipated fond embrace, 



TH E VKN D KTTA . oa 

•'As sweet to soul as houey to tl\e taste." 

Foml Iiiez'3 night of sorrow, ^spreading, darker giow.s, 

Until l)iight inoru of Joy breaks sweetly on her woes. 

She's happy onoe more — he's conung — tis bliss — 

Oh ! Life I could ye ever, always be this ; 

As blissful as the bliss tlie angels feel, . 

E'er >vheu soul thought lost to Heaven doth kneel. 

Kieree Fear hath vanished, Joy takes her role. 

And lifts th' dark cloud from Inez's soul. 

As Rose, which Winter doth long oppress, 

Uomes forth in beauty at Springs caress, 

Its sweetness for a time unseen, 

Hath but increased tenfold, I ween. 

Oh, Joy ! the liglit of her young life had come, 

Inez enraptured, smiled sweetly ; 'twas one 

Of all oi: Earth that chiim'd each tear, each sigh, 

'Twas life to welcome, 'twas death to bid good by. 

More passionately told, more graphicly true, 

lu actions evinced, in glances she threw, 

As hast'ning, she met 'neath the mistletoe bough, 

Her lover Gonzailes, where pledged wa-s their vow. 

No less was returned her passion so warm, 

The star of his night — the calm in life's storm. 

*»«*****♦* 
Life's but a meteor — a drop in the sea of Time— 
We live to die and sink in ages' oblivion slime ; 
In nations' storms, a flash — in ages' serge, a daw«, 
On waves of ages rise, but bubbles, burst atid gone. 
And find resistless death, deep in oblivion graves, 
While through Eternity's sea, roll ages' passing 
waves. 



90 THE VENDETTA. 

CANTO THE THIED. 

Hark! hark! what, tocsin breaks upon the ear, 

Wild cries of merrimenc and yell and cheer; 

The revel's commenc'd in the outlaw's cave, 

O'er treasures and wines, the spoils of the wave; 

The sherbet from each porous vase doth pour, 

The yell, the song, with ocean's wild waves roar; 

The silv'ry peal of siren's merry laugh, 

Comes wafting on tlie breeze's airy quafl", 

From where ardent ]<>ve-lit Passion's glance. 

Is flung o'er dancers in th' mazy dance. 

Where Love's soft eyes drink love from eyes with 

mutual power, 
As freely sip each others sweets, soft Night's fresh 

flower,* 
Thus, mid the graceful minuet 
Rise fond desires which such beget ; 
There thus is Cupid's fond delight, 
Or 'neath the moon's refulgent light; 
While Phoebus slumbers in the west, 
When Luna comes at Night's request, 
And casts her sweet and melting smile, 
On Nature's coming hours the while. 
A Sybaritic scene; luxurious at least, 
As banquets commonly, or carnival feast: 
Carousals that drown the incubi of thought, 
Nepenthe of mind, the Lethe most sought. 



* The uyctanthes, night-bloomiug-ceras and others which exhale 
their perfumesat uight. 



THE VENDETTA. dl 

Here fair Euphrosyne reigns Pleasures queen, 

Here Baeelius is the ruling God, I ween. 

As wild as wildest waves which roar, 

The outlaws their libations pour, 

To Bacchus, God of many more. 

The sparkling wine — the drunken glee — 

Told of their wild hilarity : 

Show'd plainly sole and chief intent, 

Was but the present enjoyment ; 

Guitar and lute combin'd and met 

In sweet, wild tones, the eastiuet ; 

In chorus tli' music rose and fell 

Through vaulted caverns — witli ocean's swell— 

Th' voluptuous tune, the seducing waltz, 

Show'd grace and beauty — unseen the faults. 

On Earth, in. Heaven or Hell though it be, 
Eternity rolls eternally, 
The sweetest moments of life must pass, 
And helpless, wither in death at last; 
Oft in her happiest hour, elate, 
Doth Beauty bow to the blast of Fate ; 
The fairest belle of the minuet. 
Must thus to Time pay Nature's debt. 
And scoring hearts' blood's heated streams shall rot. 
Though "revel, dance, and banquet are forgot," 
When Time in his course hath passed away, 
Then all will be eternal Night or Day. 
• ********** 
Without the cave, the scene is Nature'-s bliss— 



92 THE VENDETTA. 

No sound of revelr.y — more of Heaven than this. 

Here rolls the sparkling, glittering stream, 

Beneath the hot sun's scorching heam, 

O'er rock's of porph'ry, beds of sand. 

And snake-like gliding through the lard, 

At length flows out the channels bed, 

Hath — like an apparition— fled. 

The forest bows before the breeze, 

The wild birds flutter through the trees. 

Which spread their leaves as breezes blew, 

Where oft the deer has bounded through, 

When close the hunter of the chase. 

Horse, gun and dog pursued the race. 

Here myrtle with the ivy vine 

In clinging tendrils amorous twine. 

And here and there wild flowers between 

Fling soft their beauty o'er the scene ; 

Far floating wide their sweet perfume, 

Oft draws the smile of silvery moon. 

When mystic starry lamps of night, 

Hang hov'ring in Heaven's vaulted hight. 

When sweet the twilight hour to wile, 

The lover "basks in Beauty's smile," 

Or seeks "Dame Fortune" to beguile. 

Not e'en the raven locks of Night 

Can close to Fancy's raptured sight 

The scenes when moon and stars do stray ; 

Or beauties which the light of Day 

Hath shown ere Darkness chased away. 

Here lost, the mountain streamlet stray'd 



THE VENDRTTA. 93 

Through meadows green an«l forest glade; 

Now winding east — now winding m est — 

A a fearful where— which course the best — 

Like agony of thought, which Love so oft inspires — 

.\ soul still fluttering 'twixt two fond desires. 

And here before and their behind, 

Th' Wild Flower danc'd merely to the Wind ; 

fn whispers on her lover's breast — 

'Mid blushes as he oft caressed — 

Enraptured — feeling she was blessed — 

Fn sweet confusion oft confessed 

'Twas he alone who claimed her sighs. 

As oft the loving Wind replies 
That she has all his sympathies. 
Here frowning clifTs o'erhang the sea, 
There far beneath the waters flee. 
Where ebbs and flows the tide witli fiuitless toil, 
To move a petrean barrier from the soil, 
Which ages hath, and will its progress foil ; 
As one through love — 'though reason doth revoke- 
Still cherishes some fond delusive hope; 
As strangers oft remind of some one else, 
'Though who that one, fails memory to express. 
Here skyward towering, mammoth rocks, 
Which firmly stand the mighty shocks 
Old Ocean heaves in wrath, still set 
Like Heavenward looms mosque's minaret. 
And here and there, o'er halcyon spots, 
Come whispering voices from hidden grols ; 
When Nature speaks from earth or sky. 
Fond distant Echo doth reply. 



94 THB TEND ETTA. 

Pale shadows here flit o'er a stream, 
Like phantoms of a restless dream, 
Where golden fish of varied hue, 
Bright sparkle waves like early dew, 
'Neath Pan, Fauns and Flora's view. 
The owlet shriek'd from shaded perch, 
The squirrel danc'd gayly on the birch ; 
Where fierce the hyena's laughing prowl 
Is answer'd by the jackal's howl. 
The sunscorch'd dewdrop sought relief 
Within the wild flow«r's petal sheaf. 
A cadence far out o'er the bay 
Is chanted by the wild winds play. 
And ripples laughing at the tide. 
Thrown back by breakers on its side. 
Seem merry as a new made bride. 
The zeph^^r's sigh on th' rock bound shore 
Commingles with the wild waves' roar. 
Here where the wide bay 'gins to grow, 
And stops the course of streamlet's flow, 
•And ebb and flow of tide to hem, 
Sparkles the hyacinthiangem. 
Where waves kiss'd shore — so loving met — 
Nodded the sweet wild mignonette 
To gentle zephyrs floating nigh. 
Or breath of Heaven passing by. 
Like Peris from their homes in aerial sky 
Lament that Fate had robb'd them from on High, 
In voices sweet, but ah ! so sad to cloy 
Fond Beauty's breast, the shrine of Heaven's joy ; 



THK VENDTCTTA. 95 

Or wailing tones of dying year, 

Here sounds tt^e bassoon far and near. 

Wafting from bower of fragrant dell 

Where Love and Beauty seem to dwell ; 

A spot profuse with Beauty's sheen, 

As ever Tempers delightful scene, 

As home of Israfel,* where pours free 

Soft, sweet, exquisite melody. 

The light of day once more has nearly fled, 

Sol sleepy hangs o'er his hesperian bed ; 

As slow with laurels. fades departing Light, 

So crowns each star the garland brow of Night. 

**♦****•»** 
'Tis eve ; the king of Day has sought his rest, 
Now Night's fair queen appears most gorgeous dress'd, 
And too, sweet Hesper comes, with beauty blest. 
Adorns Twilight's pale brow — Night's loveliest — 
Oft clouds flit o'er the chaste moon's light. 
And far into the dreamy night. 

Where Ignis Fatui o'er the marshes, moody leave 
Th' deluded followers, they but beckon to deceive. 
As oft the priestly garb, and miinisterial robe, 
Hides but the knave, and prove Hypocracy's abode ; 
Or oft as tender sigh, the blush, and fallen lid beguiles, 
And hides designing craft of woman's heartless wiles. 
From wood and air, from o'er the sea, 
Came Sylphs and Nymphs' voices merrily. 



* The angel Israfel, whose heart-strings are a lute, and who has 
the sweetest voice of all God's creatures. — Koban. 



96 THK VENDRTTA. 

.liiil in the breezes seeming, dwelt — 
Ijike .symphony utiseea, 'though felt — 
Tlie spirits of departed friends, 
Now fur, now near, as Fancy lends. 
Afar upon the boundless deep blue sea 
Night's Stars with Nereids are dancing merrily 
To Nature's music born far o'er the Deep, 
Which wafts from lyre her airy fingers sweep. 
Where restless waves their Ocean f<jam beget, 
iietlecthig back the starry Armament, 
Sweet painted in soft Twilight's dim blue air, 
Floats Heavenly image of an angel there ; 
Th' Oninipt tent pictur'd in the azure sky 
Fond raving Fancy's visionary eye. 
Alas ! but seen ; quick vanishes away, 
A moments glimpse of Heaven reflected ray. 
Now transparent veils the darken'd moon, 
Comes forth again in silent, silvery noon. 

And now behind another cloud has fiown, 

As oft is the imperious Beauty shown. 

Fair Luna's sweetest blush doth glow, 

In modesty, from lake below. 

Nestled fondly 'neath wood's sylvad shade, 

Home of fairy, nymph, gnome, dryad, naiad .; 

And many a star of the firmament. 

To bosom of lake its beauty lent. 

Now cloud}'^ phantoms race afar, 

Like lightning flit 'neath pale lit star, 

And fly across the moon as fast. 

As thistle down before the blast ; 



THE rKNDETTA. 97 

Thus proudly speed tlirough Upper Deep, 
In death shall pause to wail and weep.* 
An pve, when steals upon the nervous mind, 
The thought: a spirit hovers in the wind. 
Then hears in superstitious fright, 
A demon's chuckle from the night. 

**•*♦**** *.* 
Tis sweet in sylvan shade when twilight shields the 

sun, 
To lingering caress some lovely loving one, 
Who mutually returns each sympathetic sigh, 
Untarnish'd by the World's cold, calculating eye. 
'Tis sweet to seek the eve's sequester'd bower. 
And wile away the twilight's fading hour, 
Wheti sweet Affection's tendrils, loving bind 
Two hearts and souls in one united mind. 
'Tis sweet nt eve to wander on the beach. 
There read what Nature's open book can teach. 
'Tis sweet on Ocean's shore in solitude to stray, 
And hear in silence the sad waves murmering play ; 
And lingering there on the lonely shore 
To list to music of its sullen roar, 
When Nature thus — in water's voice, in wild bird's 

cry- 
Is speaking her praise of God profound sublimity ; 
But th' sweetest thing — to soul most dear — 
Is an unselfish heart 'ud a conscience clear. 
SucVi oft are thoughts and feelings eve bestows, 



• To dissolve in thunder and rain. 
J3 



y» THE VENDETTA. 

E'er hath sweet Twilight sought her calm repose 

In her voluptuous gos'mer bed, 

With Night's soft mantle o'er her spread. 

CANTO THE FOURTH. 

In solitary dell, where wild winds lonely weep, 
The isle a mystery kept, as sometimes secrets keep. 
There sounded afar, a deep strange yell, 
As though souls were struggleing on the brink of 

Hell ; 
These voices rose o'er the mist and the gale, 
Seem'd sending through world a wild sad'ning wail. 
The vale was haunted at midnight gloom. 
Sepulchral spirits shriek'd forth their doom 
With fiendish horror, always at noon 
Of Night's Erebus darkness — 'neath pale lit moon — 
When verj"^ isle trembled at the terrible roar. 
When fear held the outlaw spell-bound to the shore. 
Till each demoniac yell died far on the breeze. 
When heart's blood slow melted, from its torpid 

freeze. 
None! e'en the boldest outlaw would not dare 
The gloomy darkess ever settled there, 
Where howls and shrieks of misery, death, despair, 
Came floating on the nigiitly breezes' blow, 
With other signs o'f mebinchol.v woh, 
Whengory Vengeance ar, miilnitrlit ridv's tl><' r.)l]ing 

storm, 



THE VENDETTA. 99 

E'er blasts with deatli, where awful strides that hor- 
rid form 
When helpless victims well Death's coming fear, 
When Darkness hurls the deadly branded spear ; 
Where hovers o'er all ch' cold damp wings of Death, 
The last dread foe of mortals — Fleeting Breath. 
The pirates long through superstitious brains, 
Had wondered at and fear'd these mournful strains, 
Though they ne'er had entered in this lonely haunted 

dell ; 
To them the goblins ever deep in mystery dwell. 
No one could prove it, yet suspicion fell 
That the pirate captain in secrecy talked. 
And held cemmunion in the haunted dell, 
There with grim spectres, 'twas thought he had 

walked. 
To think was all, they dared no questions, asked, 
His sraileless face they fear'd — a face e'er masked. 

Lost spirits of the restless miirder'd dead. 
That hovered corses o'er from which they'd fled. 
Grim phantoms of the night — 'twas also said — 
Ten thousand demons on th' dark stormy air 
Sent ghoulish shrieks at midnight wildly there. 

Lone spirit of Eternal's darken'd space, 
That leaves no image of thy shadowy race, 
Canst thou no solace find, no secret spell, 
Lost wanderer o'er Earth through gloomy Hell? 



100 THE VENDETTA. 

Debarr'd from Heaven, is there no rest, no Lethe for 

thy woe ? 
Dost thou strange spirit no narcotic's sweet nepenthe 

know? 
"Lost, lost, list." A voice from the tomb. 
"Lost, lost, lost." It speaks of its doom. 
Why should I thus, so strangely, wildly question 

thee ! 
'Twas ever thus — is now — alas! 'twill ever be. 

******** * * 
With that strange, subtle, and mysterious power 
Of thought, we silently enter the lone grim tower. 
"My dear, my love, my ever fondest hopes. 
Whom absent from, in gloom my spirit mopes, 
Take heed to this, ray dream, though idle it may 

prove, 
I tell it thee, Gelnore, through fear, through wildest 

love. 
I thought 'twas eve, T wandered on a lonely shore, 
The placid sea sigh'd low, as oft I've heard before. 
Emerged half in water with white wild face, 
Reclining eyes upward on a damp sand place, 
With matted locks blown by wind, I saw thee, beloved, 

dead, 
I saw thee there, O God ! in death ; in misery my 

heart bled. 
A melancholy spirit I seemed to be myself. 
There wandering alone on shore, o'er petrean shelf." 
"Thou e'er solicitous for me, for my welfare, 
Have felt, dear Inez, the pangs of Love's despair ; 



THE VENDETTA. 101 

And in thy sleep an incubus — " 

"Th© nightmare 

Tliou would say; alas! no— dear one, it could not be. 
/Fwas some darken'd vision — I fear a prophecy." 
''And dost thou wish to make me gloomy, sad? 
Sole treasure of my heart — " 

(Inez with affectionate caress, and clinging kiss.) 

•'I'll make thee glad, 
Come sit thee here, I'll tune my sweet guitar, 
And sing to thee as oft, of Trafalgar, 
Thy favorite piece when sad is thy spirit — 
Wilstthou accompany thy voice — wilstthou hear it?" 
"Thanks, lovely treasure, thy voice alone 
Hath greater charms — a sweeter tone — 
Any piece dear Inez that's thy wish will please me. 
Let war, or love, or whate'er the lay be." 
With a voice which would carry the soul away, 
Rich, pathetic, and grand was her sweet wild lay. 
What e'er each other's pleasures, such each craves. 
Thus Cupid binds his notunwilling slaves. 

********* * 
The days were many to those on the isle. 
Luxurious Ease did their hours beguile. 
Earth's pleasure must end, as end doth its pain, 
The corsairs wish'd greatly once more for the main, 

The wine was consum'd, they long'd it again. 

As ne' ei a restless wanderer long finds a peaceful 
home, 

Some distant fond delusion doth ever whisper 
"Roam." 



102 THK VKNBMTTA, 

The Dassioiis of Inez as deep as the sea, 
Not wishing to part witli Love's idolatry, 
Requested to go with Gonzailes as he cruised, 
That danger to her tlie corsair e'er refused. 
To be with her lover, to keep by his side. 
She tries to persuade, to weau from the tide. 
With all the power of her female charms, 
And tries the force of her dream's alarms, 
When all else fail'd in deptliof her fears, 
She tries woman's last resource— her tears ; 
Gonzailes' heart smote with such tender force. 
He nigh repented in his soul, his course. 
Resolved to stay in that moment of bliss, 
While staling the last long lingering kiss, 
When boom'd forth the cannon, the bullets hiss. 
As oft in other days, Gonzailes had heard before. 
Loud rolls each startling crash, the thund'ring peals 

of war. 
The guards' quick shout — the vedettes' hoarse wild 

Told of surprise, told of death or victor.y. 

Now thick and fast on his uneasy soul. 

Grim wars in ail their ghastly horrors roll, 

As gath'ring clouds beneath the moon rush o'er. 

Grim monsters hast'ning to a Phantom war. 

And shriek o'er tempest thunder shouts afar ; 

With shrieks, breathe lightning from their fiery 

throats. 
When shakes in terror each lone trembling star. 
In Night and Death each warlike spectre floats. 
Or, like when some lone, thoughtful, pensive mind 



TKE VENDETTA. .103 

Doth seek where sylvan woods subui-ban bind, 

For kindred feelings which oft seem with Stillness 

dwell, 
Is startled by the maniac's wild frenzied yell 
From bars of seme lone, gray, towering prison dim, 
Some Idle vagary, or wandering crazy whim. 

The lovers parted with the battles first wild knell ;" 
"Adieu dear Inez," were wonls that fondly came 
To ears of her, who kiss'd what slie fear'd to name 
By lips, though utterM heart, that ominous word 

"Fairwell." 
Ah ! this Cytherean fair now feels'. 
The loss which Fear awakened steals. 
One by one large tears mount to th' Beautj'^'s eyes 
Wrench'd from her heart— o'er each clieek slowly 

trails, 
When no longer her lover's form she descries. 
Knowing the danger to Gelnore Gonzailes ; 
For ne'er would he shirk while Hope waved her wing 
Though desperate the cause, though Death were the 

sting. 
********** 
Gonzailes was soon dashing onward in front, 
At hea I ot his cla i b >r.i U lUl.Vs i .pje bniiit ; 
Where e'er the thickest crowd, alive and dead, 
''His sable plumage nodded o'er his head," 
And fierce he clieer'J his comrades on to figlit, 
E'en though 'twas wrong, he thf)Ugiit he battlwd 

right. 



104 THK VENDrCTTA, 

That battle had come like the desert simoom, 
A Moorish war vessel the pirates to doom, 
A Messenger come fr(^m the Great Alia Sey, 
A difficult met in the cannon's loud hey. 

* * * * -;<- * s * * 

Wiih ballet, sword and cinieter, 
Dark Moors attempt to drive to rear 
The fortified bold buccaneer. 
A fearful squadron oft delights 
The wish, that others scale the flights 
Of towering rampart's frowning hights ; 
But ne'er again will they wish more, 
Their dying groans commingling roar 
With Death's fierce thunderbolts of war ; 
Hurl'd like snowflaket from the clouds, 
Fall engulf'd bj^ watery shrouds. 
With wild fierce shrieks, expiring clay 
Soon mingles with the foaming spray. 
On deck ! on land ! ah ! too — Death's knell- 
By javelins pierc'd oft warriors fell, 
Where shriek'd the wild unceasing blast 
Of War and Death, fierce howling past 
Where dead and dying on the land 
Had blood drank up by thirsty Sand: 
Through opening of the deadly wound, 
Souls forth emerge, uuseeu, around ; 
And from each corse which ghastly lay, 
Its fierce wild ghost doth glide away, 
Unwilling, to'ard those dismal shoals 
Where swift the Styx unceasing rolls ;. 



THE VENDETTA. 105 

Thus warriors die— except their souls — 
Some rose to live — some sank to die beneath — 
Thus Jove oft gives or takes at his bequeath — 
From friend and foe— when bleep's twin brother 

Death, 
Is balanc'd o'er the all unconscious breatli. 

* * * * * * * * ** 
The pirates foughi bravely, where Gonzailes, 

wounded, fell, 
Had confused the enemy with cannon and shell. 
The chief fell fighting— as mentioned before, 
He fell 'midst blood of battle's loud roar ; 
When 'midst confusion was conquer'd the foe, 
Wounded but slightly, was stunned by a blow. 
But, ere to Nature he resign'd the hour, 
Each foe had felt the acme of his power 
Seeing lover in blood through battle's dense smoke 
Inez despairing, swoon'd, and no more awoke 
To this life's sorrow ; she liad battled it well. 
Her lover's lost blood, was her funeral knell. 
A paramour for what naught else could make — for 

Love — 

Lay here a countess self exiled, instead 

Of Italy's proud nobility to move, 

"A lovely ruin now defac'd and dead." 

Had Fate not decreed to lead her astray, 

A diadem star — the belle of her day — 

Not solely of Beauty and Society's mart — 

But Infinitive grace and kindness of heart — 

And long the poor would have blessed her by love. 
14 



106 THE VENDETTA. 

An angel of Mercy from the Throne above. 
Say not 'tis palliation, Justice hath demands, 
E'en now as wings my Muse fair Astraea* breezy 
hovering, scans. 

Ye who have felt the ne'er repaying pain 
When Death doth bruise the tender chords of Love, 
When desolate you see a dear one lain 
In earthern shroud — entomb'd — no more to move- 
Will understand the feelings of the corsair chief 
At sight of Inez dying, in death dumb. 
To ye who ne'er have known Death's bitter grief, 
Await the hour, to ye 'twill likely come ; 
If not, 'tis better never felt, nor never known, 
'Twill save a multitude of Sorrow's seeds unsown ; 
Though they might grow to chasten erring hearts, 
Yet harsh that blow, which ever, bitter parts. 

********** 
Chastity ! thou that long hath held 
The World's existence on, ia Virtue's modest check, 
Man owes to thee iu heart, joy knell'd, 
For little pure that's saved from Vice— Corruption's 

wreck — 
Warm thanks to surface ever gurgling up, 
As o'erflows th' boiling sparkling chaldron cup. 

********** 
The chief is sad and alone in the tower, 
A bleeding bruis'd stem bereft of the flower. 



Aatrjea, the Goddess of Justice. 



THE VENDETTA. '" 107 

(GoNZAiLEs' soliloquy over the corse of Inez ) 
•' Until now I have wisb'd to live andmove, 
O ! then I was lov'd and had one to love, 
Alas ! both have left me, my life's but bitter hate — • 
Foul curses on the chain* which links me e'er to Ate. 
The greatest damnning curse on Earth to me, 
E'er has been this fated chain of Destiny — 
A chain that's slowly rusted link by link — 
And I the last — but hover on the brink. 
Could I but lay me down by that dear form, 
All would be calm — no more of this life's storm. 
One hour with thee, dear Inez— one hour would be 

divine — 
Alas ! in death hath vanished — that hour will ne'er 

be mine." 
The pirate chief gazed on his dead leman's bier, 
While sadlj' flowed from his eyes— tear by tear — 
The last ©f his happiness — all Earth's desires — 
"One hour ago thy fond heartbeat fever's fires — 
E'er through the yeast of years, war, havoc, strife. 
Thou hast been th' onlj' joy — Egeria of my life." 
While gazing on corse of eole one he loved, 
His heart and soul's best impulses moved ; 
He plac'd on her cold brow and lips a kiss — 
'Twas th' last he felt of agonizing bliss, f 
There crept through his soul a dread — a nameless 

fear — 



* The chain of Destiny. 

t Pleasure and pain combined. 



108 THK VENDRTTA. 

He gave to the dead— 'twas all he could— a tear. 

E'en from his youngest infancy — from year to year — 

His life that moment center'd in that scalding tear. 

"T will seek again the gloomy dell — 

From those lost souls oft mingling there — 

Bj'^ that power of oath — th' Vendetta's spell,— 

I'll rip the future from them hare. 

Until now I've not sought, nor wish'd to know, 

While she lived I loved, all now is woe," 

As one whose fond wishes go ever unheard, 

At length dies a victim to hopes long deferred, 

As cheer'd are sick beds when Hope watches there. 

So death pangs are felt when settles Despair. 

CANTO THE FIFTH. 

GoNZAiLKS m the haunted dell. — Time, near Midnight. 

"By Fate's deep power which links us ! by th' 

Vendetta's oath ! 
By its conjuror spell and magic power, I both 
Call and conjure ye spirits! rise and speak tome — 
Come from the air and darken'd night — come from 

the sea — 
Come from the realms of In visibleness, that I may 

see." 

SOLPHUEKOCS odors and several puflfs of flame and smoke 
are now seen accompanied by a rambling sound. 
Spibits Appeab .— Gonzailbs Shudders. 
"Short sighted mortal what wouldst thou ? 
We've come, we can't disobey the vow." 



TKE VRXDETTA. 109 

GONZAILES . 

"I'd kuow how long my soul must battle with the 

flesh, 
How long I'm to be linked to this accura'd oath or 

vow, 
Compelling me on through dark labrynthian meshi 
When shall I rest for e'er in sleep this aching brow?" 

A Spirit 
I'What meanest thou, rash mortal? 
Think not to cross Death's portal. 
Think not of death, whilst thou canst live, 
In thee our only hopes survive. 
Religion's vow told us on Earth, 
Instill'd in us from very birth, 
That so long as th' blood of aa enemy survived, 
We for Heaven ne'er could hope, from happiness be 

deprived. 
Since death we know what doth transpire on 

Mortals sphere, 
No knowledge of our Vendetta or Heaven find we 

here. 
Of our enemies, five are still on Earth, 
One dies this night, another comes by birth; 
Not till each one, not till all are slain, 
(^an we expect e'er happiness to gain : 
The only one art thou on Earth of our Vendetta, 
Yet five remain — beware —offsprings of him — Roletta. 
Shouldst thou die ere all are slain we are lost—a 

broken spell — 
In misery and woe we'll ever restless creep in Hell." 
Spibits Exbunt. 



110 THE VEXUKTrA. 

GONZAILES . 

"Back! by our Vendetta oath — its power- -I conjure 
ye! hold!" 

8PIUITS RSAPPBAK. 
GONZAILES. 

"Why leave me thus in iguorance — ye have yet 

untold 
Where one of these ill fated five are, or can be found, 
I might seek from pole to pole, 'nd circle Earth 

around." 

A Spikit. 

"One lives in Venice, a Venetian count, 
With his two sisters--" 

[A Pause.] 

GONZAILES . 

"Which ot three amount--'' 
Spirit. 

"This Night a mother dies, a child is born to weep 
Beneath the arching boAV— not that of Upper Deep — 
But where 'midst watered vales, the Alpine torrents 

creep ;* 
The fifth and last —in one respect like thee— 
Roams o'er the wave, and dwells upon the sea, 
A licens'd merchantmaa of Italy." 

SpnUTS DiSAPPBAK. 
GONZAILES . 

"Appear ! I invoke ye ! I command ye! I adjure ! "■ 
Spirits Bktubk. 



* A phenomenon seen among the Alps. 



THK VENDRTTA. Ill 

GONZAILES. 

"Their names! their names! without I can no 

longer endure . 
This coatinuence of blood— the thought ahudders 

my bones — 
Tell me their names e'er Night's middle hour 
proclaima Death's groans."* 
Spirit 
"The Venetiaa is Count Baldoray — 
His sisters, Countesses lo and May — 
The offspring — of th' mother a moment since dead — 
Whose surname thou hast heard, 'tis this, Hanfred • 
'Though yet the given name bj' mortals is unknown, 
Will bear the nothingness— 'tis strange — of Jeroldone. 
The last, Captain Warbolt of th' ship Bonnifence — 
We go! mortal to thy mission ! hence ! hence !" 

GONZAILES. 

''Hold! unveil the dark future; O! sever'd when 

'nd how from Ate?" 

A Spirit. 
"It is not within our vow — Pity whispers "don't 

relate;" 
'Twould b- but adding groatar woy u> My.sery's life 

of hate, 



* 12 o'clock, the hour by some considered, ' when spirits are sup- 
posed to shriek and groan with other manifestations of their pres- 
ence. In my description of spirits in this poem, I have taken the 
same liberty as Ossian has before me:— "The groan of the people 
spread over the hiUs J it was like the thunder ol night, when the 
clouds burst on Cona, and a thousand ghosts shriek at once on the 
hollow wind." Macphbbson's Ossian. 



112 THE VEN'DKTTA. 

liife uor Death Time's decree ne'er swerve — 

Knowledge can not change Fate." 

Spirits vanish in empty space. 

(JowzAii.ES gazes at the vacancy where the souls of the 

departed were last seen, muttering : 

"I care not to call ye back — ye smell of Hell's 

charnel tomb — 
Enough I know already — my Fate's of as dark a 

doom." 
Thk Cobsair Chief slowly leavea the dell, and with no signs of 
the bitterness of his heart, appears before hie band, who wel- 
come him with : "Long live our brave captain, Gelnore Gon- 
zailes." 

********** 
From wounds— which e'or on Battle fierce attend, 
To fields of Mars— the pinions Death doth lend — 
Gonzailes now saw recovered part of his men — 
Save dead, that slumber'd ia their burial glenu. 
********** 
Qonzailes — with crew — but slowly did embark, 
His soul in gloom, all deathly dark. 
The Dolphin left her moorings in her watery flight, 
When sweetly smiles afar the silent Queen of Night, 
From off her gorgeous throne amid the sparkling 

spheres, 
Which in the sky appear bright glittering pendant 

tears. 
The chief could not bear to leave his island in 

daylight, 
Knowing 'twas a last farewell he took his leave at 
night. 



THK VENDTOTTA. 113 

Thus he bid adieu to the Corsair isle, 

With thoughts of tlie past, of Pleasure's smile, 

And thus to himself he talked the while: 

"Ne'er again will I return to gaze on this lonely 

shore. 
Nor hear these wild waves play with music in their 

roar. 
Perhaps beneath the wave where Ruin dwells, alone 
To drown and perish there, unseen, unwept,uuknown, 
Will ere long be th' way which will end my wild 

career. 
Or cannon, sword or bullet lay me on my bier, 
And Death will then stalk o'er where throbs the 

life blood here,* 
My love hath no response, Hope hath also flown, 
I live for thee. Revenge, but for thee alone. 
When thou art satisfied I've lived my life, may it be 

my latest breath, 
In any shape, in all thy terrors com', thou'rt 

welcome, O ! King Death." 
And faded on his eye, whichmemory seemed to mock, 
Died one by one the visage of each dim island rock. 

********** 
Out on the wild main — a bird upon the sea — 
The Dolphin proudly fled 'neath Earth's canopy. 
She tosts her head like a haughty queen. 
As onward the waves and sky between, 
O'er sea were oft the winds do creep, 



* Laying hia hand on his heart. 
15 



114 THK VENDKTTA. 

Or silent rest when wild waves sleep. 

A speck, a spot, alowering-cloud. 

With billows toss and crested proud ; 

Now there apace the thunder's crash. 

And oft afar the lightning's flash. 

Thus grow the storms on ocean's waves, 

Which make the Deep vain mortals' graves — 

'Tis night, the stars are hid, save few — 

Thus bursts a storm on Dolphin's crew 

And shrieks far off; the wild storm grew 

A far upon the a n g i\y s k y — 

A token of the One on High. 

The rain had fallen drops, increasing more, 

But Heaven's floovlgates now open to the roar. 

Now here, now tliere, amid the storm, 

Tiie Dolphin rears and dips her form ; 

Ah ! will she till a watery grave. 

Or toss triumphant o'er the wave! 

Bright Lightning, shooting far and near, 

E'en the unseen spirits caused to fear — 

And well tliey may for 'midst the roar, 

Are many Storms in one fierce war. 

Now martial'd thick in densest crowds 

Live Thunders leap from clouds to clouds, 

Hurling their massive bolts afar, 

Oft hitting very vault of Heaven, 

Which jars eacli hanging planet star, 

And shakes the Earth's foundation even. 

Black Mountains shriek as now by them ai-e hurl'd 

Destruction on the helpless lower world, 



THE VENDETTA. 115 

Whilst Ocean raving roars from shore to shore, 
All Universe aroused, in Elements' war. 
The wrath of Death o'er all where billows roll 
Work'd kindred with Qonzailes' stormy soul ; 
He knew full well, how most, how once e'en he 

prized breath, 
'jThough all he now desired, was this, he courted 

death ; 
"While others, trembling, shriek'd with storm, despair, 
He coolly waited ; Fate had murdered Fear. 
Ah ! yes, for years in safety, through strife and 

pestilence born, 
And fearless of all evil, he could well laugh Death to 

scorn. 
Believing Fate which M'afted o'er Life's billowy roll, 
Had destin'd the harbor wiiere would anchcr his soul. 
But see! 'tis calm! Ah! yes — for each and all obey 
Th' Almiglity's will — must thus resistless honor pay. 
The angi'v Sea as soon subsided 
When Earth and Hurricane divided. 
As it had grown from calm to storm 
With Death's dark mantle thrown 'round its form. 
Thougli safe tlie Dolpliin rode old Neptune's boreal 

blow. 
Destruction reigned supreme, and ravaged 'round 

below. 
When all was calm, when th' sailor breathed th' 

happy air, 
Oonzailes was sad, he felt tht poignant care 
Of waves on heart, which broke unceasing there— 



116 TKE VENDETTA. 

Ah ! yes, as e'er since Death did bitter part, 
Uncheck'd dasli'd Misery's breakers on his ravag'd 

lieart. 
*•* * * * * * * * * 
The Storm first fled, now follows close the Night — 
The Morn is up, lier lamp is glowing bright. 
Sweet odors born upon, the coming breeze, 
Wafts from far shores of fragrant flowers and trees. 
Aroused from slumbers sweet, the morning Star 
Shines softly bright from Heaven's celestial bar. 
As though fresh His existence man might keep, 
Th' Eternal's form now shadows on the Deep. 
The sun now brought to view a noble-looking brig, 
Which stirr'd the outlaw's soul, as wind the tender 

twig. 
They thought of gold which might soon be their own, 
By right of might, in their victims' death groan. 
One (ui board there was, 'though with sins stamp'd 

on his brow 
Had ne'er shed blood for gold, an outlaw forc'd by 

vow, 
Of robbery he was free, it never him could tempt. 
Though dyed with many crimes Gonzailes from that 

was exempt. 
********** 
For what doth man barter youth, love, honor, health? 
For Mammon's false treasures, thou perfidious 

Wealth ! 
Alas I the World's worst changes don't to thee deny, 
In thy wide ruins buried, noble hearts oft die. 



THE Ti;irDETTA.. 117 

For thee Man doth deuy his Savior and his Lord, 
And seeks in Heaven's wratli Hell's fleeting golden 

hord. 
E'en th' virgin God and Nature form'd^alone for love, 
On Earth an angel plac'd to point to Heaven above, 
For false alluring gold her best affections all are sold, 
And vainly tries to ihink, that she will purchase 

with that gold 
Those sweet endearing moments true love only 

brings, 
But never found, 'though south, where purchased 

Beauty clings. 
Such think : "My heart's not his, but will not gold 

suflftce?" 
Ah ! no, the exchange of peace for wealth is a fearful 

sacrifice, 
As on her husband's corse, that her soul may not be 

lost. 
The heathen wife is burnt — a living holocaust. 

********** 
What sound is this, which Fancy brings to me ! 
Ah! 'tis the heart's sad wail of th' weary Sea. 
A year hath flown, fast gliding o'er th' dark blue sea. 
There sails the " Doge of Venice" bearing proudly. 
The ship was but a league from 1 ndia's burning shore, 
Where oft a merchantman, she'd reap'd a golden 

store. 
A man stands on the deck, beneath the spreading 

sails. 
One glance reads his person — 'tig the corsair chief, 
Gonaailes — 



118 THE VEKDETTA. 

He had, unconscious, one day before, 
Been found, pick'd up, a waif the sea waves bore ; 
His ship, the Dolphin, and her outlaw crew, 
"With foes had sank, the foes a host, t! ey few, 
Qonzailes survived by chance, not wishing to. 
When Fate no longer forc'd, when enemies all were 

killed. 
Why live? why ? when the Vendetta was fulfilled. 
He sprang forth o'er the bow — he floats far o'er the 

wave, 
He gazes down below— he seeks a watery grave. 
'Neath those waves he slowly sank, bubbling not a 

groan, 
Alone for one he'd liv'd, he died for one alone. 
Thu?' he by Death is robb'd from Ate, 
And now at last submits to Fate, 
And, willing, leaves a world of Hate. 
Far on a rock-bound shore, his body floats to mold, 
As that dead dreamer's dream, in life, had long 

foretold. 
Who will disbelieve ! — aye ! who will faithless dare ? — 
Tiiat fond Inez did not in spirit hover there ? 

Gonzailes is an example of a misdirected soul, 
A victim of religion,* which Damnation did unfold. 
Of all religions taught the only true one is, 
Which shines above the rest, as o'er the En rth a star, 
That one by He of Calvery taught, and only this, 
Will lead the way to Heaven una iiud its ^ates ajar. 



* The Corsican Religion, 



THE VENDKTTA. 119 

Know this, vain dreamer — 'tis for thee to know — 

Life in itself an instrument of woe, 

And ye who cling to it and call it all, 

Live but to die, and perish as ye fall ; 

But those for Heaven that live as well as for the Earthy 

Live for a Sacred diadem, a boon of priceless worth. 

********** 
Discussing not the wild Beliefs, which sway 

Manlvind below 
No Christian critic, nor Infidel, nor Heaven's 

most bitter Foe,* 
Can say with truth, not good Philosophy th' following 

lines bestow, 
Tliough Christ in His great mercy mays&ve finally 

each and all, 
On that great day — or after — when Archangels 

will appall, 
Idol'trous heathen 'nd vilest sinner with th' saint, 
'Tis better to be strong than ever liable to faint, 
'Tis better- to be sure of Heaven, than liable to lose, 
To be sure is to be certain, uncertain to refuse. 

• The DevU 



ADDENDA. 

THE RESTLESS WANDERER— page 38--"Light fleecy clouds 
are distant far below. ' ' In thus placing clouds below the hight of the 
pyramids, I have by poetical license in a measure overstepped the 
bounds of reality . 

THE TYPHOON— page 43-- "Seeming to wind to tell its melan- 
cholly eare, ' ' should read, "Seeming to wind to tell its melaachol- 
ly care ;" "hat ever on its vitals Death was feasting there, " should 
read, "That ever on its vitals Death was feastinjf there." There 
are also other typogi'aphical errors on the same page, of which it is 
very prolific. 

THE VENDETTA— Canto the First— page 78— "Which mark the 
course of they, the bold and free," should read, "Which mark the 
course of them, the bold and free. ' ' 

N. B. The reader will observe other typographical errors in this 
volume which are not noticed here in the Addenda. 



